The US Department of Commerce set preliminary duties on solar imports from Southeast Asia, after an initial finding that the equipment is benefiting from illegal government aid.
The determination marks an early victory for domestic panel makers who say cheap imports are harming their operations and threatening investments meant to cultivate a US solar supply chain. They asked the government to impose the duties, arguing the equipment benefits from unfair foreign subsidies and is being sold at prices below the cost of production.
The targeted nations provide the bulk of US solar cell and module imports, and the swift imposition of countervailing duties means renewable developers would face higher prices for that equipment right away. For many imports from Thailand and Vietnam, rates would apply retroactively, going back 90 days to early July.
Photo: Reuters
The case marks only the latest bid by US manufacturers to confront overseas rivals, beginning with similar duties on solar imports from China about 12 years ago. Chinese manufacturers responded by setting up operations in other Asian nations that were not affected by the tariffs.
Chinese officials have said new tariffs threaten to slow the speed of the US energy transition and its fight against climate change. The case has drawn opposition from some foreign manufacturers and domestic renewable power developers who argue tariffs could give an unfair advantage to larger incumbent US manufacturers while raising the cost of solar power projects.
“We need effective solutions that support US solar manufacturers and, at the same time, help us deploy clean energy at the scale and the speed we need to tackle climate change and serve growing electricity demand here in the US,” Solar Energy Industries Association president Abigail Ross Hopper said.
“While we recognize the challenging market landscape for domestic manufacturers in the short term, these cases alone will not solve our macro challenges,” Hopper said.
The investigation is set to reach into spring next year — and final rates could be raised, lowered or jettisoned altogether based on the results of the probe.
Under Tuesday’s action, preliminary general rates for companies not specified by the commerce department are 8.25 percent for Cambodia, 9.13 percent for Malaysia, 23.06 percent for Thailand, and 2.85 percent for Vietnam.
Company-specific rates include 14.72 percent for imports from Hanwha Q Cells Malaysia Sdn Bhd; 3.47 percent for imports from certain JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd (晶科) entities in Malaysia, 0.14 percent for Trina Solar Science & Technology (Thailand) Ltd, and 2.85 percent for certain JA Solar Technology Co (晶澳) entities in Vietnam.
The department is still conducting its initial investigation into claims that solar imports from the targeted countries are being dumped in the US and sold below the cost of production. It is expected to reveal a preliminary finding in that case next month.
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