New Solar Tariffs Point to Ongoing Trade War with China

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This week, the Trump administration announced new tariffs on foreign solar manufacturers. The tariffs had been expected since last summer, when two foreign-owned US companies filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, arguing that China's subsidizing its domestic industry made it impossible for U.S. companies to remain competitive.

President Trump's latest tariffs seek to give U.S. solar manufacturers a chance to bounce back. But the moves threaten a rapidly growing sector of the overall American solar economy, which employs over 260,000 Americans in jobs like installation and maintenance. They also risk provoking retaliation from China, in what could amount to a growing trade war.

Madison Freeman, a fellow at the Clean Energy Leadership Institute, joins The Takeaway to talk about the implications of these new tariffs.

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.