U.S. Senator Joe Manchin announced his support for a legislative effort to repeal President Joe Biden's suspension of tariffs on solar panel imports from Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. As the first Democrat to co-sponsor the resolution introduced by Republican Senator Rick Scott in February, Manchin advocates for restoring tariffs to support domestic solar manufacturers.
Overcoming a Narrow Democratic Majority for Repeal
Senator Joe Manchin breaks ranks to support a legislative effort repealing President Biden's suspension of solar panel import tariffs from Southeast Asian nations.
The effort to overturn Biden's solar tariff suspension requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a challenging prospect given the Democrats' slim majority. Despite this, President Biden has pledged to veto the legislation if it passes.
Congressional Review Act and the Resolution's Time Limit
The resolution was introduced under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to reverse federal agency rules. However, if the CRA bill isn't passed within 60 days of its introduction, it expires.
Manchin's Concerns on Energy Reliance and Trade Laws
Senator Manchin expressed concern about the U.S. reliance on countries like China for energy needs. He believes that failing to enforce trade laws could undermine efforts to boost domestic supply chains. The conservative Democrat from West Virginia has frequently clashed with his party on energy policy.
The Impact of Biden's Solar Tariff Waiver on Clean Energy Development
President Biden waived the solar tariffs for two years in June after solar project developers argued that they would increase costs and hinder the development of clean energy facilities necessary for meeting the nation's climate change goals.
Bipartisan Measure Awaits House of Representatives Vote
A similar bipartisan measure is scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives on Friday, demonstrating ongoing efforts to address the solar tariff issue.
