Payam Javan: The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued preliminary anti-dumping tariffs ranging from 21.31 percent to 271.2 percent on solar panel imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, targeting several Chinese-owned manufacturers. The decision, announced on Nov. 29, addresses allegations of unfair pricing and trade practices that harm American manufacturers. This move follows earlier actions by the Commerce Department against photovoltaic cell imports, with tariffs as high as 292.61 percent imposed in October on imports from the same Southeast Asian countries, which are key suppliers of solar components to the U.S.

Many of the affected companies, including Jinko Solar, Trina Solar, and JA Solar, are owned or closely linked to Chinese entities. Following prior U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made solar products, these companies established operations in Southeast Asia to continue accessing the U.S. market. The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing, a coalition of U.S. solar manufacturers, spearheaded the case, accusing these companies of exploiting Southeast Asia to dump underpriced products into the U.S., undermining domestic investments. Tim Brightbill, lead counsel for the coalition, highlighted the importance of addressing China’s industrial policies to safeguard the growth of U.S. solar manufacturing.

The latest tariffs include rates such as 21.31 percent on Jinko Solar products from Malaysia, 56.51 percent for Vietnamese-made products, and 77.85 percent for Trina Solar’s Thailand-made goods. The final determinations in the antidumping and countervailing duty cases are expected in April 2025, with a review by the U.S. International Trade Commission in June. While preliminary, the tariffs signal an escalation in U.S. trade enforcement, with advocates hailing the move as a step toward protecting billions in American solar investments and addressing years of unfair trade practices.