In 2018, former President Donald Trump introduced and enacted Section 201 tariffs on imports to the United States. When these tariffs were enacted, crystalline silicon photovoltaic, the main component in solar panels, was directly affected. According to the Canadian government, Canadian exports of solar products to the United States have dropped by as much as 80%.
A Memorandum of Understanding or MOU has been agreed upon between the United States and Canada. This will resolve the dispute on trade in solar products, where the US will remove its safeguard tariffs on solar products from Canada. The MOU was signed on Friday, July 8, 2022, by Katherine Tai and Mary Ng, US trade Representative and Canada’s Minister of International Trade, respectively.
“This agreement will bring stability and predictability to our renewable energy sector and strengthen North American competitiveness”
“This agreement will bring stability and predictability to our renewable energy sector and strengthen North American competitiveness”says Minister Ng.
Both Canada, as well as North America, want to be leaders when it comes to fighting climate change, and Canadian producers of solar technology will continue to supply global markets at an increasing rate. Working together and allowing easier and more fluid imports of critical parts for solar energy will allow renewable energy to become more common as the years go on.
