The United States has announced sweeping tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian nations—Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand—marking a dramatic escalation in its efforts to counter what it deems unfair trade practices in the solar industry.
Following a yearlong investigation launched during the Biden administration, the U.S. Commerce Department has imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties aimed at offsetting what it calls “unfair subsidies” and below-cost pricing by manufacturers operating in the region. The findings suggest these companies, many of which have ties to Chinese parent firms, were allegedly circumventing U.S. trade rules and undermining domestic producers.
The penalties are stark:
- Cambodia faces the steepest blow, with tariffs soaring as high as 3,521%, a figure largely driven by its decision to withdraw from the probe.
- Vietnam, for companies not specifically named in the investigation, faces duties of up to 396%.
- Thailand sees country-wide rates reaching 375%, with Trina Solar singled out for levies exceeding 200%.
- Malaysia received a general tariff of 34.4%, though specific companies such as Jinko Solar are hit harder—40% on Malaysian exports and a staggering 245% from Vietnam.
“This is a decisive victory for American manufacturing,” said Tim Brightbill, lead counsel for the U.S.-based coalition that filed the complaint and co-chair of Wiley’s international trade practice. “The data confirms what we’ve long suspected: Chinese-headquartered solar companies have been exploiting trade loopholes, undercutting American firms, and costing U.S. workers their jobs.”
The tariffs come just weeks after the U.S. paused solar panel tariffs on most countries—excluding China—for 90 days, a move meant to stabilize domestic supply chains. This latest action, however, signals a sharp pivot and reasserts Washington’s intent to hold foreign manufacturers accountable for practices it sees as trade manipulation.
While the decision may bolster U.S. solar production in the long term, it also raises questions about short-term supply availability and cost implications for the broader American renewable energy market.
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