With the escalation of trade wars, photovoltaic inverters, solar panels with micro-inverters, and battery-storage products using lithium-ion chemistry are probably the latest 'victims'.
On July 11, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer released hundreds of lists of products worth $200 billion worth of imports from China, proposing a 10% tariff to retaliate against China’s tariffs on US exports of up to $50 billion. .
Trade lawyer John Smirnow said that although the list covers many agricultural and chemical products and raw materials, it also includes inverters (product code 8504.40.95), AC modules (solar panels with micro-inverters) (8501.61. 00) and battery storage products using lithium ion chemistry.
These tariffs are based on Section 301. As in the previous round of Section 301, tariffs will now enter the review process before finalization. Crystalline silicon solar cells and modules are currently undergoing such review.
The hearing on the new round of proposed tariffs will be held from August 20th to 23rd. The deadline for submitting applications is July 27th, and the written testimony will be closed on August 17.
