U.S. trade regulators have enforced significant tariffs on solar cells predominantly imported from Southeast Asia, marking a pivotal move in a protracted trade case.
American solar manufacturers had accused Chinese firms of undercutting the market with low-priced goods. This case, initiated the previous year, was led by multinational solar producers in the country, aiming to shield multibillion-dollar investments in the domestic solar industry.
The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, representing the petitioner group, charged major Chinese solar panel manufacturers operating in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam with exporting products below production costs and benefiting from unfair subsidies, undermining American competitiveness.
The tariffs announced on Monday differ based on company and nation but are generally higher than those initially proposed late last year. Among these, tariffs on Jinko Solar’s products from Malaysia are at a lower end, set at 41.56%, while Thai operations of competitor Trina Solar face tariffs reaching 375.19%. Cambodian products face staggering duties exceeding 3,500%, due to non-cooperation with the U.S. investigation, according to the report by Reuters.
The looming tariffs on these nations have instigated a significant realignment in the global solar supply chain. This year, imports from these four impacted nations have dropped substantially, whereas shipments from countries such as Laos and Indonesia are increasing.
For these tariffs to become official, the International Trade Commission must determine by June if the domestic industry suffered material harm due to the alleged dumping and subsidies.
