Washington, D.C. – Import data recently released by the Commerce Department show a stunning impact of the AD/CVD petitions filed on solar cells and modules in April of 2024 by The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, made up of leading U.S. solar manufacturers from across the country. The antidumping and countervailing duty petitions were filed 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.
To date, Commerce has issued preliminary determinations, and then post-preliminary determinations, for each country with tariffs ranging from 16% to 855%; a full table of current tariff rates is below.
Last week, Commerce released import data from January 2025 for solar modules brought into the United States from other countries. This data set is crucial for understanding trade balances, economic trends, and the flow of goods across borders. According to the data from January 2024 and January 2025, the imports from the four countries targeted in the Alliance’s AD/CVD petition are significantly down:
- Solar cell and module imports (by value) from Vietnam have decreased by 91.5%
- Solar cell and module imports (by value) from Thailand have decreased by 90%
- Solar cell and module imports (by value) from Malaysia have decreased by 87%
- Solar cell and module imports (by value) from Cambodia have decreased by 99.66%
Source: Compiled from tariff and trade data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.
“These numbers are very compelling, and they prove that trade enforcement works,” said Tim Brightbill, co-chair of Wiley’s International Trade Practice and lead counsel to the Alliance. “Enforcing our trade policies creates a level playing field, bolstering the American solar manufacturing industry, generating well-paying jobs, and advancing U.S. energy independence. We are closely monitoring import data from other countries as well.”
Notably, the new import data showed extraordinarily high increases in imports from Laos (214%) and Indonesia (4,797.96%). These numbers, in the context of the declines from the four Southeast Asian countries named in the AD/CVD petition, are telling.
These tariffs come in the midst of a solar boom in the United States; according to a recent analysis from SEIA and Wood Mackenzie, the US solar industry installed nearly 50 gigawatts direct current of capacity in 2024, a 21% increase from 2023, which was also a record-breaking year. Last year, solar accounted for 66% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the US grid.
Current AD/CVD Rates* Malaysia | |||
Party | Total | AD* | CVD |
Jinko | 20.45% | 9.90% | 10.55% |
Q Cells | 14.72% | 0.00% | 14.72% |
Baojia New Energy | 206.65% | 81.24% | 125.41% |
CRC Solar, Lynter, Mega PP | 93.88% | 81.24% | 12.64% |
Pax Union Resource, SunMax Energy | 135.31% | 9.90% | 125.41% |
All Others | 22.54% | 9.90% | 12.64% |
Vietnam | |||
Party | Total | AD* | CVD |
JA Solar | 81.03% | 53.30% | 27.73% |
Jinko | 164.41% | 71.85% | 92.56% |
Boviet Solar | 217.40% | 60.02% | 157.38% |
GEP New Energy, HT Solar Vietnam Ltd., Shengtian New Energy Vina, Vietnam Green Energy Commercial Services | 720.49% | 271.28% | 449.21% |
Letsolar, Mecen Solar Vina, Nexus Vietnam, Trina Solar Energy, Vietnergy & Tainergy Tech, Vietnam Sunergy, Elite Solar/Elite SNG, Blue Moon Vina | 152.58% | 60.02% | 92.56% |
All others | 363.84% | 271.28% | 92.56% |
Thailand | |||
Party | Total | AD* | CVD |
Trina | 91.44% | 77.85% | 13.59% |
Sunshine Electrical, Thaihua New Energy | 228.47% | 154.68% | 73.79% |
All Others | 91.44% | 77.85% | 13.59% |
Cambodia | |||
Party | Total | AD* | CVD |
Solarspace New Energy | 262.44% | 125.37% | 137.07% |
Jintek Phtovoltaic, ISC Cambodia | 855.23% | 125.37% | 729.86% |
All Others | 262.44% | 125.37% | 137.07% |
*Rates are current as of March 21, 2025.
The final determinations for the Alliance’s AD/CVD petition will be issued from the U.S. Department of Commerce in April, and the International Trade Commission will hold a final vote in May.
About The Alliance
The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee is a coalition of seven member and supporter companies calling for trade law enforcement against foreign entities engaging in illegal practices to protect jobs, ensure fair prices, and foster a strong American solar industry for generations to come. For more information visit: AmericanSolarTradeCmte.org.