US to unveil first of two decisions on more solar tariffs

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The U.S. Commerce Department is set to decide this week on imposing new tariffs on solar panels imported from four Southeast Asian countries—Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. This decision is part of a trade case brought by major U.S. solar manufacturers like Hanwha Qcells and First Solar, who argue that Chinese companies, operating through these nations, receive unfair subsidies that undermine U.S. competition.

These manufacturers claim such imports threaten President Biden’s initiative to enhance domestic clean energy production. The case also includes a new focus on cross-border subsidies, such as those from the Chinese government, which could lead to countervailing duties previously disallowed. While some U.S. manufacturers support these tariffs to protect their investments, others, including solar project developers and companies reliant on imported solar cells for assembly in the U.S., oppose them, warning that tariffs could escalate costs and hinder the growth of America’s solar capacity.