By Jacob M. Schlesinger and Erin Ailworth 

WASHINGTON -- U.S. solar-panel makers Friday won backing from a government commission in their bid for protection from imports, handing the Trump administration fresh ammunition in its quest to ramp up trade enforcement polices against foreign competition.

The International Trade Commission voted 4-0 to approve a request from the domestic solar-panel industry seeking relief under a little-used trade law that allows American companies to win government protection if they can show they suffered "serious injury" from a surge in imports.

The ITC members will next consider what specific policies they believe should be implemented. That recommendation will be sent in November to the White House, which would then be required to make a decision by early next year on whether to impose import limits.

The Trump administration hasn't commented on the solar-panel case. But officials have said they would consider invoking the little-used "safeguard" law more frequently in a bid to take a more aggressive stance on trade enforcement.

The solar industry had requested protection under the long-dormant "Section 201" of the 1974 trade law. Friday's vote was the first time the ITC had weighed such a petition since 2001. In that case, officials approved a request for relief from the steel industry, and the George W. Bush administration imposed tariffs the following year. Those were eventually removed after the World Trade Organization concluded the protections violated global trading rules.

After a 16-year hiatus, the law is now gaining new attention as President Donald Trump has vowed to dust off old trade laws to consider curbing imports.

The ITC is scheduled to vote on another Section 201 petition from washing-machine makers on Oct. 5.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 22, 2017 11:48 ET (15:48 GMT)