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Subsidize This: US Eyes Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels, But What Gets Protected?

Firedoglake -- While trade is often a bone of contention between the U.S. and China, this week’s visit by Chinese V. President Xi Jinping threw the spotlight on one subset of that battle that could have far-reaching effects well in excess of the raw dollar amounts at stake.

At issue is a complaint filed by a solar industry trade group, the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing asking that the US government impose tariffs on Chinese solar panels. CASM wants the duties for what it claims are unfair subsidies by China that make Chinese solar products substantially cheaper than those offered by many US competitors.

indicate the federal govt set to weigh in on the side of US solar energy companies in this brewing trade war, and so make a stand for domestic green energy manufacturing and good-paying job

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Submitted Feb 19, 2012 By: DellDude2

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DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,630 Points:3,496,655 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:40:28 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse It will only increase the price of solar panels to the US consumer.
DrLyon Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,655 Points:1,212,805 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:36:43 PM Ignore DrLyon Report Abuse Keep working on solar, no matter...
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,201 Points:1,114,000 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:35:25 PM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse ropegun11: "...President Obama is a very good orator, wordsmith, spin-artist, etc...but then, so was Adolf Hitler...In reality, the actual "change" for the American people is less than "hope"ful... :/" Congrats on invoking Godwins law (use of the Reductio ad Hitlerem argument). The thread can now be closed as having quickly reached rock bottom for discussion quality. Wikipedia - Reductio ad Hitlerum Godwin's Law [Edited by: rx7racerca at 2/19/2012 9:36:33 PM EST]
rpr77 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:3,906 Points:769,535 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:35:19 PM Ignore rpr77 Report Abuse ok
bigsranch Champion Author Houston Posts:3,156 Points:1,007,430 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:34:11 PM Ignore bigsranch Report Abuse How much lead paint is in one of those Chicom solar panels?
Steady325 Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,588 Points:1,461,035 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:32:08 PM Ignore Steady325 Report Abuse ok
skyking19 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:2,006 Points:1,700,790 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:31:19 PM Ignore skyking19 Report Abuse Trade traiffs are a double edged sword. This is a tuff one.
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,201 Points:1,114,000 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:30:03 PM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse Better would be if action had been taken before Solyndra and other US solar firms with top-drawer tech started to fail, but the US seems to have been caught unaware it was in the midst of a trade war until the US solar industry began to suffer its own "Pearl Harbor". I do agree with the writer - since fossil fuels and nuclear, for example, get ample subsidies and tax breaks, a better approach is to subsidize US solar manufacturers to make them competitive with the Chinese, rather than use tariffs, which would mean less alternative, renewable energy. Which also isn't in the best interest of the States, in a world where $100+/bbl oil seems to be the new floor price.
darkknight1 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:4,345 Points:897,785 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:30:02 PM Ignore darkknight1 Report Abuse hmmmmm
ropegun11 Veteran Author Illinois Posts:436 Points:444,745 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:29:19 PM Ignore ropegun11 Report Abuse ...President Obama is a very good orator, wordsmith, spin-artist, etc...but then, so was Adolf Hitler...In reality, the actual "change" for the American people is less than "hope"ful... :/ [Edited by: ropegun11 at 2/19/2012 9:31:27 PM EST]
Red7002011 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:3,342 Points:670,670 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:28:38 PM Ignore Red7002011 Report Abuse Really!
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:5,643 Points:1,559,515 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:25:24 PM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse solar schmolar - the US companys took Huseins (Taxpayers) money now they're crying
eswi Champion Author Madison Posts:2,550 Points:685,105 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:23:52 PM Ignore eswi Report Abuse OK
my2002m Champion Author Tulsa Posts:6,084 Points:1,671,500 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:23:41 PM Ignore my2002m Report Abuse All US subsidies need to end.
saleboss Champion Author Phoenix Posts:3,929 Points:1,177,875 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:23:40 PM Ignore saleboss Report Abuse I agree entirely with Taurus1!
Taurus1 Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,135 Points:1,675,450 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:20:34 PM Ignore Taurus1 Report Abuse Anything imported should have a tariff. Even US products made outside the US should have an import tax.
V8power Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,826 Points:1,381,945 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:18:39 PM Ignore V8power Report Abuse Obama's only looking at this issue due to a re-election year.
danlanman Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,342 Points:724,410 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:17:55 PM Ignore danlanman Report Abuse stop subsidies
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,358 Points:1,541,705 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:17:32 PM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Charge the blip out of Chinese crap !! Cap this !
geepy All-Star Author Long Island Posts:779 Points:521,595 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:12:27 PM Ignore geepy Report Abuse subsidies never end well
9C1 Champion Author Chicago Posts:22,869 Points:4,248,535 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 8:11:56 PM Ignore 9C1 Report Abuse Remove ALL subsidies. That means those for farmers too.
JENNYHK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,651 Points:715,495 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:58:41 PM Ignore JENNYHK Report Abuse ENOUGH!!!! NO SUBSIDIES!!!!!! The Chinese will just screw us back.
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,760 Points:566,955 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:58:01 PM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse do we really want the inferior quality of chinese products?
toadNY Champion Author Albany Posts:7,052 Points:1,515,100 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:55:55 PM Ignore toadNY Report Abuse Why all the solar companys obama gave Tax Payers money to took the money an ran! [Edited by: toadNY at 2/19/2012 8:56:12 PM EST]
heysailor Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:9,592 Points:2,334,620 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:52:50 PM Ignore heysailor Report Abuse The Chinese cheat. It's a fact of life.
SUPERQUACK Champion Author Sacramento Posts:6,131 Points:1,912,805 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:51:29 PM Ignore SUPERQUACK Report Abuse MORE POLITICS ... AND NO MAJOR MEANINGFUL "CHANGE"
boborobot All-Star Author Michigan Posts:501 Points:418,425 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:50:46 PM Ignore boborobot Report Abuse We shouldn't subsidize anything.
TDIdave Champion Author California Posts:5,068 Points:1,226,690 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:50:37 PM Ignore TDIdave Report Abuse Need to do something to ensure fair trade.
ericbcire Champion Author Nevada Posts:4,530 Points:1,269,285 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:49:02 PM Ignore ericbcire Report Abuse More tariffs are needed on all Chinese products.
MJIOWA Champion Author Iowa Posts:4,828 Points:1,078,920 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:48:07 PM Ignore MJIOWA Report Abuse yup
SUSANCK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,652 Points:710,405 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:47:57 PM Ignore SUSANCK Report Abuse What another obummer error! NO SUBSIDIES!!! Just don't do it.
bevmill Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,587 Points:602,270 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:47:46 PM Ignore bevmill Report Abuse ok
Tehbob Champion Author California Posts:2,301 Points:458,580 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:45:32 PM Ignore Tehbob Report Abuse unfair
BigBillMI All-Star Author Detroit Posts:616 Points:248,930 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:43:16 PM Ignore BigBillMI Report Abuse i agree unfair
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,559 Points:2,623,850 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:39:18 PM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse Tariffs for unfair subsidies and inferior products.
NoStrings Champion Author Ventura Posts:1,387 Points:271,280 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:36:42 PM Ignore NoStrings Report Abuse Ok
Chris46 Champion Author Dayton Posts:23,683 Points:2,083,290 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:36:00 PM Ignore Chris46 Report Abuse It will all end in higher prices for the consumer.
jcotaxi Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,765 Points:361,055 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:34:48 PM Ignore jcotaxi Report Abuse Obama wears me down.
yeehaw1073 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,366 Points:1,851,400 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:30:41 PM Ignore yeehaw1073 Report Abuse let the market decide
sammy518 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,589 Points:539,790 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:30:16 PM Ignore sammy518 Report Abuse ?
76chevy Champion Author Toledo Posts:3,992 Points:770,140 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:26:21 PM Ignore 76chevy Report Abuse As long as the subsidy money is not used to loan money to companies that say...donate to obamas re-election campaign. Not that this would ever happen! [Edited by: 76chevy at 2/19/2012 8:26:45 PM EST]
nobodyMO Champion Author Kansas City Posts:2,251 Points:554,305 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:23:15 PM Ignore nobodyMO Report Abuse they need to get rid of trade agreements.
preacherjohn Champion Author Modesto Posts:3,994 Points:1,920,715 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:19:01 PM Ignore preacherjohn Report Abuse put tariff on this & that--I'm paying lots more for my tags for my 1994 pickup.
confetti Veteran Author Tampa Posts:354 Points:363,790 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:18:56 PM Ignore confetti Report Abuse Protectionist trade policies will come back to bite consumers in the long run. Though it sounds good to "save American jobs" what it means is mandated higher prices. Certain people have the luxury of choosing to pay more for an American-made good, but others need to buy at the best price even if it's foreign-made. Enacting tariffs is taking away other people's choice about what they prefer to spend their money on -- it is immoral.
JLSindy Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,496 Points:674,990 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:17:15 PM Ignore JLSindy Report Abuse I agree with most of what everyone says.
cwashi3324 Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,807 Points:574,265 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:14:29 PM Ignore cwashi3324 Report Abuse Good!
Drema63 Rookie Author Tennessee Posts:4 Points:1,255 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:12:46 PM Ignore Drema63 Report Abuse ok
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,238 Points:1,227,750 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:12:15 PM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse Bring the jobs back to America and their won't be any tariffs. Too hard for our simple lawmakers.
geoutpb Champion Author Midland Odessa Posts:4,633 Points:1,068,260 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:10:31 PM Ignore geoutpb Report Abuse China dumps a tremendous amount of junk on our shores.
fxb1 Champion Author Louisiana Posts:2,533 Points:606,985 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:05:43 PM Ignore fxb1 Report Abuse ok
fedupMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,964 Points:574,655 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:04:58 PM Ignore fedupMN Report Abuse and this has what to do with gas or cars or ???
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,561 Points:1,920,735 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2012 7:04:41 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse ok