ITC to Act on Photovoltaic Panel Trade Case

OMA Connections Partner, Jones Day, posted about a trade issue in the photovoltaic industry: “A recent decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) could have long-term consequences for the U.S. solar industry. On September 22, 2017, the ITC found, by a vote of 4-0, that rising imports have caused “serious injury” to domestic manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (“PV”) panels, thus supporting trade barriers restricting solar panel imports. The ITC will now have until mid-November 2017 to recommend remedies to President Trump, who may exercise his sole discretion in determining which safeguards are to be implemented.”

Jones Day also wrote: “Solar project developers and installation companies, which have benefitted from the rapid decline in solar PV panel prices, lined up in opposition to the case. They argued that increasing the price of panels would jeopardize the development of dozens of gigawatts of solar generation facilities and lead to tens of thousands of lost jobs. …”