China flooded US with solar panels before Trump's tariffs (HUGE spike in imports, just before)

The Malaysian Reserve ^ | Monday, February 19th, 2018

[cba123]

NEW YORK • Chinese suppliers flooded the US solar market with panels at the end of last year, as customers sought to avoid paying President Donald Trump’s 30% import tariff.

Fourth-quarter deliveries from China were almost 11 times higher than in the first nine months of 2017, according to a report last Friday by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). Manufacturers also hauled panels and cells across the border from Mexico, Canada and other countries to beat the import duties that were announced last month.

(please see link for full article)

[cba123]

There's a chart at the story, at the link.

It's pretty dramatic.

I know eventually there will be some pressure to build American manufacturers.

But for now, none. The Chinese flooded the market, before the tariffs.

[cba123]

https://themalaysianreserve.com/2018/02/19/china-flooded-us-solar-panels-trumps-tariffs/

[Jeff Chandler]

So . . . the time to buy solar panels is NOW!

[nickcarraway]

Kind of like when Obama put tariffs on tires?

Or the tariffs Obama pushed for the Chinese?

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump said he was against, included huge tariffs.

Basically Trump is stealing Obama's economic policy.

[The Duke]

I thought there was some sort of “inventory tax”, originating in the Reagan era, that would have caused this not to happen???

[gunsequalfreedom]

There's a chart at the story, at the link. It's pretty dramatic. I know eventually there will be some pressure to build American manufacturers. But for now, none. The Chinese flooded the market, before the tariffs.

Well, there is another chart coming that will show the failure rate of all those panels rushed out the door to beat the deadline.

Anyone ordering a solar system should insist on U.S. made or know a date of manufacture on Chinese panels that do not include the rushed inventory.

[867V309]

So . . . the time to buy solar panels is NOW!

well, I've bought low cost chinee stuff. short term, ok, if you think it will last, well, no.

[tired&retired]

I recall the same thing happened with AK 47’s when Clinton announced the ban. One of Bill’s supporters suddenly had several hundred thousand in transit.

[Pollard]

Yup, considering the ROI on solar panels is 15 years, you definitely want a brand name. Not some china knock off junk.

We’ve got a few panels because we lived off grid for 5 years. Well worth the price and the ROI, for us, was 5 years of being able to run a small fridge to keep meat and milk and chill our beverages because two of those years were during the heat waves.

108 degrees with no AC was a biotch.

Happy to be back on the grid and we still have our battery bank and inverter so when the electric goes out, we still have a cordless phone, modem/router/internet, TV and LED lighting.

If it’s hot, we have a generator that will run a window AC and recharge the batteries. We’re hanging on to our two burner coleman stove too.

Will be doing electric fence at some point and that will be solar.

[The Great RJ]

I’m seeing acres of solar panels being put up all over southern Minnesota. Likely some of those made in China products being erected by local utilities with government subsidies and or tax credits that will produce electricity only when the sun shines at many times the cost of conventional power plants that operate day AND night. Another green energy boondoggle that will just boost my electric rates and taxes.

[gunsequalfreedom]

Sounds like you had a great experience. Although from the sound of it living off grid misses some creature comforts.

[central_va]

Just shows the ChiComs govt is actively trying to de fang the USA by de industrializing our economy. WE.ARE.AT.WAR.