U.S. Solar Group Says Expanded Tariffs Would Cripple Industry

A prominent U.S. solar industry-group is warning that expanded tariffs -- if imposed by the Commerce Department -- would crimp installations at a time when the Biden administration is pushing to significantly boost sun-based power.

The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates that potential duties on some imports from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand would increase costs, prompt job losses and could depress installations by almost a third below prior forecasts for 2022 and 2023, according to a presentation Monday from the Washington-based trade group. Those countries accounted for more than 80% of photovoltaic imports to the U.S. in the first half of this year, according to BloombergNEF.