A US trade commission is recommending that the Trump administration impose tariffs or other restrictions to slow an influx of low-cost solar panels imported from China and other countries.

The four-member International Trade Commission split over the exact nature of the remedies but agreed that a surge in imported solar cells and panels has caused serious harm to US manufacturers.

The panel’s chairwoman, Rhonda Schmidtlein, recommended tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 35 per cent on selected imports, while two other commissioners recommended 30 per cent taxes to be phased in over four years. A fourth commissioner recommended restrictions on imports of solar products to the US.