The 4-0 vote by the International Trade Commission could boost Trump administration efforts to take a more aggressive stance on trade enforcement
By Jacob M. Schlesinger, Andrew Tangel and Erin Ailworth | The Wall Street Journal
President Donald Trump’s pledge to offer American companies more aggressive protection from foreign competition got fresh ammunition Friday, when a government board cleared the way for him to deploy a long-dormant legal weapon to restrict solar panel imports.
The significance of the 4-0 vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission goes beyond the energy sector.
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The independent, bipartisan agency authorized the use of trade barriers under a law last invoked in 2002 by the George W. Bush administration to protect U.S. steelmakers. The decision is likely to encourage more industries to turn to the “safeguard” law, which permits companies to seek relief if they can prove “serious injury” from a sudden surge in imports.
