Asia Tech Wire (Jan 19) -- Chinese solar panel manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd.(601012.SH) plans to expand sales in the U.S. despite the possible return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House.

LONGi's 2023 shipments to the U.S. increased from a low base in 2022, and sales in the U.S. will continue to grow this year, LONGi Chairman Zhong Baoshen said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Davos on Thursday.

Trump, who had launched a tariff war against China during his tenure, won an overwhelming victory in the first 2024 Republican presidential contest in Iowa on Monday night, bringing him one step closer to returning to the White House.

While campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday, Trump hinted that he would continue to take a tough stance against China if he wins election as the 47th president of the United States.

The former president has been stockpiling a series of protectionist measures for his possible second term, mainly new tariffs on imports from China and other countries.

Nonetheless, LONGi plans to expand its sales in the U.S., given the country's commitment to a clean energy transition.

"No matter which party is elected, the trend of developing clean energy in the US will not change," Zhong said in the interview. "We still have a firm confidence in developing clean energy in the US."

Production has now begun at LONGi's joint venture facility in the U.S. state of Ohio. The Chinese manufacturer and its local partner, Invenergy LLC, aim to eventually produce more than 1,000 solar panels per hour at their 5GW plant in Pataskala.

As competition intensifies in the domestic market, LONGi last year joined Chinese peers JA Solar and Trina Solar in announcing plans to build its first U.S. plant, pushing ahead with overseas expansion.