At recent events, industry professionals and policymakers have emphasized the importance of building a domestic manufacturing industry to support the ambitious level of solar deployment called for in Biden’s decarbonization plans. Although the U.S. was once a leader in solar panel manufacturing, much of the value chain has moved to other countries like China. According to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) 2020 Annual Solar Photovoltaic Module Shipments Report, solar PV imports to the U.S. totaled just under 19.3 million peak kW, and exports totaled 376,483 peak kW. Vietnam is the top importer, with 8.1 million peak kW, followed by South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Manufacturers have called for several policy measures, such as targeted tax credit incentives, which were included in the now stalled Build Back Better Act (BBBA). Solar manufacturers have also been large proponents of imposing tariffs on imports from other countries, citing concerns about being able to compete with foreign made products. However, tariffs have largely been controversial among the solar industry and clean energy advocates, who say that tariffs will prevent further solar development.