Biden Vetoes Legislation That Would Reinstate Tariffs on Some Solar Panels
President Biden vetoed legislation on Tuesday that would have reinstated tariffs on solar panels from Chinese companies in Southeast Asia that had been found to be imported into the United States in violation of trade rules.
The Senate narrowly passed the resolution this month, with several key Democrats supporting the measure, in a sharp rebuke to Mr. Biden. The president announced a two-year pause on the tariffs last year after importers complained that the penalties would threaten broader adoption of solar energy in the United States.
“Passage of this resolution bets against American innovation,” Mr. Biden said in a statement on Tuesday. “It would undermine these efforts and create deep uncertainty for American businesses and workers in the solar industry.”
A two-thirds majority of lawmakers in both houses would be needed to override Mr. Biden’s veto.
The showdown has pitted Mr. Biden’s climate goals against efforts to make the United States less reliant on China’s supply of materials that are crucial for the American economy. Critics said the suspension on tariffs failed to defend American workers and solar manufacturers, who have pushed the administration to block the importing of cheap products.
Source: The New York Times
