Yesterday, Suniva, Inc., a Georgia-based manufacturer of crystalline silicon cells and modules, filed a petition with the International Trade Commission (ITC) under Section 201 of the Trade Act seeking relief from “foreign manufactured crystalline silicon photovoltaic ("CSPV") cells and modules.”

Although we strongly support U.S. manufacturing, SEIA, after consultation with our Federal Policy Committee, has publicly taken the position against this petition to avoid damage to the 9,000 companies and 258,000 jobs in parts of the solar industry other than CSPV cell manufacturers.

We have been working diligently to educate the industry, policy makers and journalists that Suniva’s suggested approach is counterproductive. So, what happens next? In a nutshell, the ITC must decide on the merits of the petition, and if it finds “serious damage” to the U.S. CSPV industry by imported products as alleged, it will suggest remedies to the Trump administration. The ball would then be in President Trump’s court to decide on an appropriate remedy.

The timeline for this process is:

• April 26, 2017 - Petition filed 
• August 24, 2017 - Deadline for ITC issuing findings 
• October 23, 2017 – Deadline for ITC transmittal of report to the President, together with any relief recommendations 
• October – December 2017 - Executive Branch consideration and expected announcement of relief approach. 

The Trump administration has been outspoken on the need for American manufacturing, but it is our hope he will not view a bankrupt company’s “last-ditch effort to survive” (as the Wall Street Journal put it) as a compelling vehicle for the pro-manufacturing cause. We will do everything we can to prevent the remedies proposed by Suniva from becoming reality. 

SEIA is putting an enormous focus on this and is committed to transparency in our approach as we work together for the right result.