Tariffs dim US solar prospects

Tariffs imposed by the US government on imported solar cells and panels not only hinder the industry's growth but also hurt jobs and threaten clean energy goals, said a US official and alternative-energy advocates.

Having struggled with the impact of the tariffs for nearly two years, the solar industry in the United States has been dealt a fresh blow: The US government last month rescinded a tariff exclusion for bifacial solar panels after it had been granted in June.

The solar panels are now subject to the current 25 percent tariffs. Early last year, the US government imposed tariffs of 30 percent on foreign-made solar products. Those tariffs are set to decline by 5 percent each year through 2022.