Trump Slaps Steep Tariffs on Foreign Washing Machines and Solar Products
- 6 years ago
Trump Slaps Steep Tariffs on Foreign Washing Machines and Solar Products
WASHINGTON — President Trump slapped steep tariffs on imports of washing machines
and solar energy cells and panels on Monday, the first major step by the administration to erect the kind of trade barriers Mr. Trump has frequently said are necessary to protect manufacturers in the United States.
Instead, the White House took action on imports of washing machines
and solar products based on requests by companies who said their operations in the United States were being harmed by imports.
Suvi Sharma, the chief executive of Solaria, a solar panel maker headquartered in California
that makes products in both the United States and South Korea, said the trade action would be an incentive to shift more of its operations into the United States.
While the United States has previously imposed restrictions on Chinese solar products, Chinese firms simply
moved production to other countries, the United States trade representative said in its announcement.
Robert Lighthizer, the United States trade representative, said the president had decided to accept the recommendations
of his trade advisers in imposing tariffs ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent on various imports.
WASHINGTON — President Trump slapped steep tariffs on imports of washing machines
and solar energy cells and panels on Monday, the first major step by the administration to erect the kind of trade barriers Mr. Trump has frequently said are necessary to protect manufacturers in the United States.
Instead, the White House took action on imports of washing machines
and solar products based on requests by companies who said their operations in the United States were being harmed by imports.
Suvi Sharma, the chief executive of Solaria, a solar panel maker headquartered in California
that makes products in both the United States and South Korea, said the trade action would be an incentive to shift more of its operations into the United States.
While the United States has previously imposed restrictions on Chinese solar products, Chinese firms simply
moved production to other countries, the United States trade representative said in its announcement.
Robert Lighthizer, the United States trade representative, said the president had decided to accept the recommendations
of his trade advisers in imposing tariffs ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent on various imports.