WASHINGTON — The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for holding a vote to override President Joe Biden’s veto of the bipartisan resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res. 39) under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that would repeal the Biden administration’s Solar Emergency Declaration. This harmful Declaration, in effect until June 2024, protects Chinese solar manufacturers even though the U.S. Commerce Department recently determined, after an in-depth investigation, that they are illegally evading tariffs. The House voted 214 to 205, failing to reach the necessary two-thirds majority to override President Biden’s veto. The bipartisan Solar CRA previously passed the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In President Biden’s veto message to Congress, he wrote that, “For too long, because of unfair trade practices and underinvestment in domestic manufacturing, the United States has been reliant on China for solar energy products.” By vetoing the bipartisan Solar CRA, the President is enabling the very same unfair Chinese trade practices that he laments.
“It’s a shame that more than 200 House lawmakers today voted to ignore China’s illegal trade activity that is directly harming American manufacturers and workers,” said Michael Stumo, CEO of CPA. “President Biden and Democratic lawmakers in Congress have said that the Solar Emergency Declaration is just a temporary bridge that is necessary to achieve climate goals. This is absolutely false. It is a permanent get out of jail free card for China forever. Every single lawmaker who voted against overriding President Biden’s veto just gave a green light to the CCP’s illegal trade cheating, while destabilizing America’s path to solar manufacturing self-sufficiency and increasing pollution from solar production due to China’s historic construction of dirty coal.”
Biden’s “Tariff Suspension” is a permanent giveaway to China, not a “temporary bridge”
Opponents of the solar CRA have falsely claimed the Biden administration’s rule is necessary to turn a blind eye to illegal Chinese trade activity and suspend tariffs because a “temporary bridge” is needed to keep up with demand. In reality, the administration’s Solar Emergency Declaration is a “get out of jail free card” for China forever. Commerce’s preliminary determination allows China to avoid future tariffs by constructing wafer facilities outside of China—something the Chinese are doing right now. It takes roughly 18 months to build a wafer facility, which is why the Biden administration chose to suspend tariffs for two years.
- Dive Deeper: Read CPA’s Myths and Facts HERE.
American Voters Want to Hold China Accountable for Illegal Trade Violations
A recent poll of likely voters, conducted by Morning Consult for the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA), shows 80% of likely voters, including 76% of Democrats and 77% of Independents, are concerned that the Solar Emergency Declaration protects Chinese solar manufacturers who are illegally avoiding tariffs. Additionally, a significant majority (62%) of likely voters, including 61% of Democrats and 55% of Independents, support Congress passing the bipartisan Solar CRA.
