Biden allows more solar cell imports to avoid Trump-era tariffs

(Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday more than doubled the volume of solar cells that are allowed to be imported tariff-free to help domestic panel producers that rely on components made overseas.

According to a White House proclamation released late on Monday, the so-called tariff-rate quota on solar cells will increase to 12.5 gigawatts from 5 GW. The tariff currently is set at 14.25%

The tariffs were first imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018 under section 201 of the 1974 trade act to protect the small U.S. solar manufacturing sector against competition from low-priced imports made mainly in Asia.

The Biden administration had said in May it would consider raising the quota if imports approached the 5 GW level.

Biden has pledged to revitalized American manufacturing jobs in part by producing clean energy equipment to support his climate change agenda.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Tom Hogue)