US suspends tariffs on solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam

US President Joe Biden lifted tariffs on solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam for two years and used a key power to compel the domestic production of clean energy technology.

The moves are aimed at increasing renewable energy capacity and combating climate change, a priority for Biden, whose environmental goals have had mixed results.

According to the White House, the said clean energy technologies must be harnessed to lower energy costs for families, reduce risks to our power grid, and tackle the urgent crisis of a changing climate.

While duties will be lifted on certain solar parts from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, they won’t be on those from China, as the Commerce Department investigates whether some Chinese companies are circumventing US customs duties by assembling parts in the four countries.

The lifting of duties would work as a "bridge" to ensure the United States has access to sufficient parts to meet electricity needs while domestic capacity scales up.

Simultaneously, Biden's administration will use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to speed up production and increase demand by leveraging the federal government's purchasing power.

The DPA specifically targets solar panel components, building insulation, and energy-efficient heat pumps.

More clean energy projects, such as solar and wind, will be allowed on public lands, according to the Biden administration.