The US on Monday announced its intention to impose tariffs of up to 3,521 percent on solar panels from Southeast Asia, a move aimed at countering alleged Chinese subsidies and dumping in the sector.
The tariffs on companies from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam would still need to be ratified at a meeting of the US International Trade Commission in June.
The decision unveiled comes after anti-dumping and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations were filed about a year ago by several US and other solar manufacturers.
Photo: AFP
The companies took aim at “unfair practices” that were said to have weighed on the US domestic solar market, particularly raising concern over Chinese-headquartered companies operating out of Southeast Asian countries.
While Monday’s move came after a year-long investigation, it follows on the heels of US President Donald Trump launching blistering trade wars through tariffs around the globe.
Trump’s tariffs, which have seen the White House impose high levies before suspending some of them to allow for negotiations, are aimed at reducing US trade imbalances.
However, the US Department of Commerce’s statement said the new recommended tariffs on solar cells were taking specific aim at “transnational subsidies.”
“In the CVD investigations involving Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, [the department] found that companies in each country were receiving subsidies from the government of China,” the statement said. “These are among the first CVD investigations wherein [the department] has made an affirmative finding that companies received transnational subsidies.”
The case was brought by Hanwha Qcells Co, First Solar Inc, Convalt Energy Inc and others.
For the duties to be finalized, the US International Trade Commission has until early June to make a final determination.
Among firms targeted were Chinese companies Jinko Solar Co (晶科能源) and Trina Solar Ltd (天合光能).
Products from Cambodia are set to face duties of up to 3,521 percent, the commerce department said.
Jinko Solar faced duties of 40 percent for exports from Malaysia and about 245 percent for goods from Vietnam.
Trina Solar in Thailand would see duties of more than 375 percent, and more than 200 percent for products from Vietnam.
If imposed, the new levies would come on top of the blanket 10 percent tariff imposed by Trump since early this month on products entering the US from most trading partners.
In 2023, the US imported US$11.9 billion in solar cells from the countries named in the latest action, official data showed.
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