Trump's Solar Panel Tariff Could Kill 23,000 Jobs

WASHINGTON, DC — Much of the solar energy industry is pushing back against President Trump's plan to throw a 30 percent tariff on importation of solar cells and panels. The Solar Energy Industries Association, a prominent trade group, projected that the decision could cost 23,000 American jobs and block billions of dollars of investment in green energy.

“While tariffs in this case will not create adequate cell or module manufacturing to meet U.S. demand, or keep foreign-owned Suniva and SolarWorld afloat, they will create a crisis in a part of our economy that has been thriving, which will ultimately cost tens of thousands of hard-working, blue-collar Americans their jobs,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the association.

But the entire solar sector is not unified in its opposition. Suniva Inc., a manufacturer of solar cells, was among those calling for tariffs.

Trump's move is "a step forward for this high-tech solar-manufacturing industry we pioneered right here in America," Suniva spokesman Mark Paustenbach told The Associated Press.

Installers and manufacturers who use solar panels would likely be hit hard under the new tariff regime.

The decision to use tariffs to promote an American industry exposed some divisions in the Republican ranks. Many of those most committed to ideologies revering free markets find tariffs abhorrent.

Washing machine imports will also be hit with a tariff under the new proposal.

In a statement, Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sasse criticized the administration's move, saying, "Moms and dads shopping on a budget for a new washing machine will pay for this — not big companies."

"These actions will prevent serious injury to American manufacturers of washing machines and solar cells and modules," the White House said in a statement.

Congress has no authority to change or veto Trump's decision. Countries affected by the decision can appeal to the World Trade Organization.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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