Brady Expresses Openness to Giving Commerce More Discretion to Decline Investigations

The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee told reporters that while any changes to trade remedy laws need to be fully vetted, the argument that Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., made about the solar circumvention case (see 2205110072) resonates for him. Moran asked Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo if the agency needs Congress to expand the criteria that are considered before initiating an investigation. Raimondo has told senators that her hands are tied when they argue that it's absurd to damage the broad solar panel installation ecosystem on behalf of one small company. Currently, the Commerce Department is investigating whether solar panels made in Southeast Asia -- 80% of all imports -- should be subject to higher duties because they contain Chinese inputs. Chinese solar panels have been subject to antidumping and countervailing duties for 10 years; most firms' panels face a combined approximate 40% AD/CVD.