Bloomberg News reported on November 30 that the US Department of Commerce preliminarily ruled that products imported from Southeast Asia were sold in the US market at prices below production costs, constituting unfair trade practices. In response to this situation, the Department of Commerce decided to impose an anti - dumping duty of up to 271% on these products.solarThis preliminary ruling was announced on Friday and is regarded as another victory for US solar panel manufacturers. They have long argued that cheap imported products have damaged the interests of US domestic companies and undermined the investment effect of the governments efforts to cultivate the domestic supply chain.

The focus of this investigation is on crystalline silicon batteries and components made from them imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries are currently the main sources of supply of such equipment to the United States. Two months ago, the US Department of Commerce released a preliminary investigation result, concluding that solar imports from Southeast Asia were unfairly benefiting from government subsidies.

These investigations represent the latest efforts of US manufacturers to deal with overseas competitors. About 12 years ago, the United States imposed similar tariffs on solar imports from China. In response, Chinese manufacturers set up production bases in other Asian countries not affected by the tariffs. This investigation was launched in response to a petition in April from the Trade Committee of the American Solar Manufacturing Coalition, which represents companies such as First Solar, Hanwha Qcells USA, and Mission Solar Energy.photovoltaicTim Brightbill, legal advisor to the committee and partner at Wiley Rein law firm, said in an email statement: With these preliminary tariffs, we are gradually addressing years of harmful unfair trade practices and protecting billions of dollars in new US solar manufacturing and supply chain investments. These preliminary tax rates are in line with our expectations of market conditions and how these four countries have undermined US manufacturing and employment through unfair trade practices.,

However, some foreign manufacturers and domestic renewable energy developers oppose this. They believe that the tariffs provide an unfair advantage to large existing panel manufacturers operating in the United States and at the same time increase the cost of solar projects.

According to Fridays ruling, relevant products imported from Cambodia will face a cash deposit rate of 117.12%.

After the news was announced, the share price of First Solar rose by 3.8% at one point, while the American Depositary Receipts of JinkoSolar fell by 2.9%.

In Malaysia, the preliminary assessed tax rates range from 17.84% for JinkoSolar Technology Co., Ltd. to 81.24% for other suppliers. Hanwha Q Cells Malaysia Co., Ltd. was preliminarily determined to have no dumping margin and was thus given a preliminary cash deposit rate of 0%.

In Vietnam, several exporters including JA Solar Vietnam Co., Ltd., JinkoSolar (Vietnam) Industrial Co., Ltd., Boway Solar Technology Co., Ltd., and Trina Solar Development Co., Ltd. face cash deposit rates of 53.19% to 56.4%. Vietnamese exporters not specifically listed in Fridays action by the US Department of Commerce will be subject to a tax rate of 271.28%.

The final decisions of these two trade investigations are expected to be made in April next year. Depending on the investigation results, the currently preliminarily assessed tariffs may be increased, decreased, or completely abolished.

Import and Export Trade of Photovoltaic Panels

The United States Imposes up to 271% Anti - dumping Duty on Solar Products from Southeast Asia | Shanghai Import/Export Agent