As part of the agreement signed on July 8, the U.S. and Canada also committed to prohibiting imports of solar products produced with forced labor.
By John Engel, Renewable Energy World
The Trump administration implemented the solar safeguard measure in 2018 to support domestic solar manufacturing. While largely aimed at China, the safeguard extended to all solar imports.
In February, a panel found that Canada’s inclusion in the solar safeguard was inconsistent with rules within the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
That same month, President Biden extended the solar safeguard measure for an additional four years, but excluded bifacial cells and doubled the import quota on solar cells to 5 GW. Biden also directed the United States trade representative to conclude agreements with Canada and Mexico on trade in solar products.
“Reaching this settlement with Canada will promote the greater deployment of solar energy in the United States using products from one of our closest allies, and foster a more resilient North American supply chain for clean energy products made without forced labor,” United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a statement.
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