Comments on: Solar Import Tariffs or Rampant Free Trade? http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/solar-politics/the-argument-for-solar-import-tariffs/ A blog about residential solar power, brought to you by CalFinder. Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:36:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dan http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/solar-politics/the-argument-for-solar-import-tariffs/comment-page-1/#comment-20209 Dan Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:58:17 +0000 http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/solar-politics/the-argument-for-solar-import-tariffs/#comment-20209 An increase in import tariffs on solar equipment does signify a preference for U.S. panels. And instead of simply giving more money to domestic businesses, we actually build revenue off of the tariffs on imports. U.S. made panels get the advantage of an accelerating domestic solar industry and the government (i.e. the taxpayers) earn a direct profit which can then be used for existing subsidies, R&D, etc. This is not an uncommon practice. Even China has import tariffs on its essential domestic industries...such as fish, with tariffs between 12 and 20 percent on specific types of fish. This protects China's livelihood while providing valuable revenue so that they can expand into other fields...a lesson we would do well to re-learn stateside. An increase in import tariffs on solar equipment does signify a preference for U.S. panels. And instead of simply giving more money to domestic businesses, we actually build revenue off of the tariffs on imports. U.S. made panels get the advantage of an accelerating domestic solar industry and the government (i.e. the taxpayers) earn a direct profit which can then be used for existing subsidies, R&D, etc. This is not an uncommon practice. Even China has import tariffs on its essential domestic industries…such as fish, with tariffs between 12 and 20 percent on specific types of fish. This protects China’s livelihood while providing valuable revenue so that they can expand into other fields…a lesson we would do well to re-learn stateside.

]]> By: LifeAction http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/solar-politics/the-argument-for-solar-import-tariffs/comment-page-1/#comment-19880 LifeAction Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:36:21 +0000 http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/solar-politics/the-argument-for-solar-import-tariffs/#comment-19880 This seems to be an argument for increasing the price of overseas products by using tariffs, while at the same time we are subsidizing the installation of the same products. If you really want to incent installation of solar panels, then why would you add cost using tariffs? If we want to encourage the installation of solar panels, but take into account that we have a preference for US solar panels, then give a slightly better tax credit / rebate for US equipment. That way we aren’t driving with our foot on the brake and the accelerator at the same time. This seems to be an argument for increasing the price of overseas products by using tariffs, while at the same time we are subsidizing the installation of the same products.

If you really want to incent installation of solar panels, then why would you add cost using tariffs?

If we want to encourage the installation of solar panels, but take into account that we have a preference for US solar panels, then give a slightly better tax credit / rebate for US equipment.

That way we aren’t driving with our foot on the brake and the accelerator at the same time.

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