US eliminates solar tariffs
The Canadian Press – July 8, 2022 / 12:46 PM | History: 374857
Photo: pixabay
Canada and the United States have reached an agreement to eliminate U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made solar products.
International Trade Minister Mary Ng says the agreement reflects a shared commitment to fighting climate change and developing renewable energy.
Ng will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Mexican Economy Secretary Tatiana Clouthier Carrillo in Vancouver at the Free Trade Commission meeting.
Tariffs were imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, and the Canadian government has said exports of solar products to the U.S. have fallen by up to 82 percent since then.
In February, a dispute resolution panel found that by keeping Canadian exports subject to its so-called “safeguard measures,” the U.S. was in breach of its obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.
Ng also says he will raise the issue of softwood lumber negotiations during a bilateral meeting with Tai.
“The way forward is to find a solution with the United States,” he said.
They both agreed that it is an important issue, but it is not clear what this possible solution will look like. Tai reiterated his support for the industry.
“Our priority is to ensure that U.S. softwood producers can compete on equal terms,” Tai said. “Subsidized timber and dumped imports undermine its ability to compete fairly.”