[throwaway2016a]

> we need innovation in the US solar panel supply chain.

Completely agree but reducing competition could backfire and create less innovation (due to less incentive to compete / innovate) than more.

> Energy independence is tantamount with security.

This only helps if you are talking non-renewable energy. A country can stop their oil shipments, they have leverage there. They can't typically take away solar panels.

Now one could say that they can take away the supply of new panels and slow US adoption of renewables. But isn't that exactly what the President is doing here? It's like saying I might be shot at some point so I might as well shoot myself in the foot now.