American trade officials have ended the sharp definitions of most of the solar cells imported from Southeast Asia, which represents a major step in a year -old commercial dispute aimed at protecting local solar manufacturing.
This decision follows accusations from American solar energy producers that Chinese -owned companies were flooding the American market with low and supported solar products, undermining local investments.
The commercial case started last year by Hanwha Qcells in Korea, based in Arizona Verse Solar Inc, and many smaller manufacturers under the umbrella of the American Trade Committee for Solar Manufacturing. The group claimed that the Chinese solar panel companies operating in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam were exporting products at lower prices than the market and benefiting from non -fair government support.
The newly imposed definitions, which were announced on Monday, are much higher than the initial duties issued late last year and differ by the company and the country. Jinko Solar products from Malaysia will face duties of anti -dumping and anti -jamming cooperation by 41.56 %, while TRINA Solar exports from Thailand to a 375.19 % more tariff.
Cambodian manufacturers, who have not cooperated with the American investigation, face the punitive tariffs of more than 3500 %.
The advertisement is expected to re -form the dynamics of global solar trade. Southeast Asia has provided more than $ 10 billion of solar products to the United States last year, which is the majority of the country’s imports.
Since the launch of the investigation, imports from the four target countries have decreased sharply, while alternative sources from countries such as Laos and Indonesia are gaining strength.
However, this step has sparked criticism from stakeholders in this field, especially the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which says the definitions can increase prices on imported solar cells. These cells are essential components of panel collection in the United States, a industry that has seen growth after clean energy benefits that were presented in 2022.
The final implementation of the tariff definitions is now dependent on voting by the American International Trade Committee in June, which will determine whether the local industry has suffered material damage due to the supplied and supported imports.