WASHINGTON: U.S. trade officials have finalized significant tariffs on solar imports from Southeast Asia, marking a pivotal moment in a year-long trade dispute centered on unfair competition claims against Chinese-owned manufacturers.
The case, initiated by Korea’s Hanwha Qcells, Arizona-based First Solar Inc., and other domestic producers, accused Chinese companies of undercutting prices by exporting subsidized, below-cost solar panels from factories in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee argued these practices threatened billions in U.S. clean energy investments.
The finalized tariffs, announced Monday, vary by company and country. Jinko Solar’s Malaysian products face a 41.56% duty, while Trina Solar’s Thailand-made goods are subject to a steep 375.19% tariff. Cambodian producers, who did not cooperate with the investigation, were hit with tariffs exceeding 3,500%.
“These are very strong results,” said Tim Brightbill, legal counsel for the U.S. manufacturers. “We believe these tariffs will finally curb the unfair trade practices hurting the domestic solar industry.”
The announcement has already reshaped global supply chains. Imports from the four targeted countries have plunged, while suppliers from countries like Laos and Indonesia are filling the gap.
However, critics including the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) warn the tariffs could backfire by raising costs on essential solar components used by U.S. assembly plants benefiting from 2022 clean energy subsidies.
The International Trade Commission will vote in June to determine whether the U.S. solar industry was materially harmed, a necessary step for the tariffs to become permanent.
