US Trade Commission Approves Tariffs on Southeast Asian Solar Imports

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has unanimously found that solar panel imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, largely operated by Chinese companies, have harmed the U.S. domestic solar industry by dumping products at unfairly low prices and benefiting from subsidies. The ITC's decision paves the way for imposing anti-dumping and countervailing duties ranging from 34% to as high as 3,521%, with final tariffs set to take effect in mid-June 2025. The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee has urged the ITC to finalize its determination by June 2 to prevent a potential surge of duty-free solar imports stored in bonded warehouses from flooding the U.S. market. The tariffs specifically target solar cells, a crucial component of solar panels, and are intended to protect U.S. manufacturers from unfair competition posed by these imports. The Department of Commerce has already announced final tariff rates, some exceeding 3,000%, and duties will be collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection once the orders come into effect. This move aims to ensure fair competition in the U.S. solar market and support the growth of domestic manufacturing amid ongoing trade disputes with Chinese-operated manufacturers using third-country production sites.