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14LTR_SOL on Apr 9, 2014

The dispute with China over solar goods continues to escalate. China continues to demonstrate an unwillingness to settle the dispute until our domestic solar industry presents unified proposals that remove existing trade restrictions. Continuing to let this dispute play out one case at a time will limit job growth.

Opposing argument: (Cato Institute, "Solar Panels Trade Case Mocks Washington's Ways," May 17, 2012): Antidumping duties on solar panels from China are just another example of myopic, self-flagellating, capricious U.S. antidumping policy toward China. But in this instance the absurdity is magnified by the fact that Washington has already devoted billions of dollars in production subsidies and consumption tax credits in an effort to invent a non-trivial market for solar energy. Imposing duties only undermines that objective.

Opposing argument: (Sierra Club, U.S. Challenges India's Solar Industry, Feb. 20. 2014): The US filed a WTO complaint against India. The allegation? That India may be unfairly supporting the development of its solar manufacturing industry. This misguided complaint will only further enflame tensions over an issue we all support: deploying more clean energy.

India's national solar program was launched in 2010 and aims to bring 20,000 megawatts of solar power to India by 2022. This project will result in more solar power that will help reduce India's reliance on coal. Sounds like a program the US should be supporting--even emulating--right?

Not according to the US Trade Representative, who claims that the "buy local" portion of India's program discriminates against US solar exports. We think the claim is misguided, at best, and harmful to the future of solar deployment, at worst. Also see related legislation H.R.3782, "Open Act" and related letter from 31 Senators, "Turkish Rebar"

Participating counts on VoteMatch question 13. Question 13: Support & expand free trade Scores: -2=Strongly oppose; -1=Oppose; 0=neutral; 1=Support; 2=Strongly support.
• Topic: Free Trade
• Headline: Resolve disputes so US can export solar panels to China (Score: 1)
  
  
• Key for participation codes:
• Sponsorships: p=sponsored; o=co-sponsored; s=signed
• Memberships: c=chair; m=member; e=endorsed; f=profiled; s=scored
• Resolutions: i=introduced; w=wrote; a=adopted
• Cases: w=wrote; j=joined; d=dissented; c=concurred
• Surveys: '+' supports; '-' opposes.