A second US PV manufacturer has voiced concern that trade proposals could inadvertently classify its products as Chinese.

Congressman Erik Paulsen has weighed into the case by writing to the Department of Commerce to express his concern that Minnesota based tenKsolar could shed all 80 jobs if the proposals continue.

The department has suggested that solar panels with any major Chinese component be classified as a Chinese module for trade purposes. This has alerted US cell maker Suniva already.

Writing in defence of tenKsolar, Paulsen said: “While I firmly support the department’s mission of ensuring US competitiveness in the global marketplace, I am concerned that this particular action might be an unfair departure from the department’s normal investigations of unfair trade practices that could have unintended negative consequences on American business and American jobs.