Twelve Dems join Republicans to KILL ban on Chinese-originated solar panel tariffs

Twelve House Democrats joined Republicans in voting to repeal a Biden administration rule that exempted Chinese-made solar panels from tariffs while the U.S. shores up domestic production.

Eight Republicans, including five from New York, voted against the resolution.  

President Biden announced last year a two-year ban on tariffs on solar panels and components originating in China but imported from Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam as the U.S. shores up its mining operations to dig for critical minerals in the panels. 

There are already tariffs on panels that come directly from China, but Chinese companies skirt trade laws by funneling their products through the southeast Asia nations. 

Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan was the lead Democratic author of the measure. 'This should not be a partisan issue,' he said 

There are already tariffs on panels that come directly from China but Chinese companies skirt trade laws by funneling their products through the southeast Asia nations

Those four nations produce 80 percent of the solar panels used in U.S. projects.  

The resolution passed Friday on a 221-202 vote and will now be sent to the Senate, where it is likely to pass. Biden has already announced he would veto the legislation if it makes it to his desk - which would mark the third veto of his presidency. 

The measure was brought forth under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) which allows Congress to reverse federal agency rules. Under the CRA it has to be brought for a vote and only needs a simple majority to pass in the Senate.

Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan was the lead Democratic author of the measure. 

'This should not be a partisan issue,' Kildee said in a recent statement. 'We cannot allow foreign solar manufacturers to violate trade laws, especially when it comes at the expense of American workers and businesses. By suspending tariffs on those who violate our trade laws, we are undermining our own American manufacturers and workers.'