The US Department of Commerce announced on Monday (April 21) that it will impose tariffs of up to 3,403.96% on solar cells and panels imported from Southeast Asia but mainly produced by Chinese factories.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duties will be imposed on solar cells (including modules) from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. These products were found to benefit from unfair pricing by foreign companies and unfair subsidies provided by their governments to foreign companies.
Imports of solar cells and panels will face countervailing duties determined by the country of origin of the products: up to 3,403.96% in Cambodia, up to 799.55% in Thailand, up to 542.64% in Vietnam, and up to 168.80% in Malaysia.
Some major manufacturers in China, such as Haoneng Optoelectronics, Trina Solar and JinkoSolar, are facing tariffs targeting specific companies. This is the final ruling made by the US government following the trade lawsuits filed by some companies last year.
Solar energy manufacturing plants owned by China have emerged all over Southeast Asia, and these countries have become the main suppliers of the solar energy industry in the United States.
The United States International Trade Commission will make the final ruling on the tariff rate on June 2nd.
To protect domestic industries, the United States has imposed severe crackdowns on solar and clean energy products from China. Starting from January 1st, the United States has raised the import tariffs on Chinese solar wafers and polycrystalline silicon (a key solar material) to 50%.
China holds a 90% market share in key links of the solar energy supply chain (from polysilicon to solar cell modules), and its cost competitiveness has attracted many countries seeking environmentally friendly energy.