Letter: More to the solar tariff story

EDITOR,
The recent article in your paper (“Tariffs on solar would raise costs of renewable energy,” Talk About Money column, Page 8, Jan. 6) omits some important facts on a subject that should concern Americans. The author, Mark Rosenburg, takes the position that if China can make solar products cheaper, then we will be able to afford more solar panels and hire more installers. That’s true as far as it goes.
However, that means all the value-added infrastructure will be left in the country doing the manufacturing. Most of the designers, engineers, management and labor of the companies that are directly and indirectly involved in the manufacturing will remain in China.
The writer also correctly states that the high cost of American labor, health care and environmental regulations in the United States make it nearly impossible for American companies to compete. Americans should be aware that the average manufacturing wage in China is $3.10 (compared with $22.30 in the U.S.); a starting doctor in Shanghai makes $450 a month; and out of the world’s 20 dirtiest cities, 16 are in China. The Chinese government has also given $30 billion in direct subsidies to Chinese solar companies in the past year alone. So Mr. Rosenberg is correct; it is impossible for manufacturing in America to compete with Chinese manufacturing. Unless there are tariffs!
Manufacturing took root in America in the 19th century because of tariffs on European products. So, Americans should ask themselves if they think the low-tariff policy is better for the future of their children. Should Americans allow China to manufacture anything the Chinese government wants for export to the U.S. market duty free? Or should we decide that our kids deserve decent-paying manufacturing jobs that can help support us as we get older and start drawing Social Security and Medicare. Are we better off than we were 30 years ago, when manufacturing employed 20 percent of the American workforce instead of the current 11 percent? We can pay for the future now with tariffs on high-value imported products, or we going to pay in spades later. There’s no free lunch, folks.
Michael Duffy, Scotts Valley