“The Alliance Trade Committee recognizes and appreciates the Administration’s commitment to improved trade enforcement on solar products. Enforcement will support and strengthen U.S. producers and the billions of dollars they are now investing in new U.S. manufacturing of solar cells and modules as well as inputs.
In June, new tariffs will hit solar panels and cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam after the Biden administration exempted those countries from fees two years ago. The shift could be significant for the market, as the four Southeast Asian nations currently dominate solar imports.
“It is very encouraging to see the Administration take action to ensure a level playing field with China.
First Solar and six other manufacturers allege that Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are flooding the U.S. market with cheap solar cells that threaten the domestic industry.
Blaming illegal subsidies in China for artificially lowering the price of panels, Qcells and at least six other U.S. solar manufacturers filed a petition Wednesday urging the federal government to crack down.
Firms warn that China uses its neighbors to skirt existing levies, depressing prices and threatening U.S. investments.
The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, represented by D.C. law firm Wiley Rein LLP, today filed of a set of antidumping and countervailing duty petitions with the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate potentially illegal trade practices by Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam that are injuring the U.S. solar industry.
Beijing is set to further increase its manufacturing and installation of solar panels as it seeks to master global markets and wean itself from imports.
