WASHINGTON — The Latest on President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines (all times local):

President Donald Trump is approving tariffs on imported solar-energy components and large washing machines in a bid to help U.S. manufacturers. The decisions in the two 'Section 201' safeguard cases followed findings by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that both imported products 'are a substantial cause of serious injury to domestic manufacturers,' U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement. The CEO and President of SolarWorld Americas Inc., Juergen Stein, praised the administration's action in a statement:



"SolarWorld Americas appreciates the hard work of President Trump, the U.S. Trade Representative, and this administration in reaching today's decision, and the President's recognition of the importance of solar manufacturing to America's economic and national security. A 30 percent tariff will be imposed on imported solar cells and modules in the first year, with the tariffs declining to 15 percent by the fourth year. Trump will impose a 20 percent tariff on the first 1.2 million imported large residential washers in the first year, and a 50 percent tariff on machines above that number. The move against imported solar components splits the solar panel industry with manufacturers favoring the tariffs as a necessary step to save domestic subsidiary companies, while installers oppose them as job-killers. U.S. solar panel manufacturers Suniva and SolarWorld filed a petition last year with the ITC to investigate the sale of solar panels marketed well below typical U.S. prices. The U.S. solar trade group, the Solar Energy Industries Association, campaigned against the tariffs and estimated the decision would create a 'crisis' for the burgeoning industry and result in the loss of 23,000 U.S. jobs this year as billions of dollars in solar investments are canceled. Whirlpool issued a statement from Chairman Jeff Fettig saying that the decision on washing machines would create new manufacturing jobs in Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. Up to certain levels, imports of solar cells will be exempt from the tariff, while the first 1.2 million imported large washing machines will get a lower tariff, peaking at 20 percent.
President Donald Trump imposes Section 201 tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines.