US to investigate solar imports from India, Indonesia, Laos

The US Commerce Department has initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on solar cell and module imports from India, Indonesia and Laos at the request of a group of US manufacturers.

A notice on the investigation is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Aug. 12. Commerce will determine whether imports from the three countries are being dumped or unfairly subsidized, and the US International Trade Commission will assess whether the imports have caused injury to the US solar industry. The investigation was initiated on Aug. 7.

The Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade filed petitions in July alleging that crystalline-silicon photovoltaic cells from the three countries, regardless of whether they are assembled into modules, are being sold or likely to be sold at less than normal value and are subsidized.

The investigations "target trade practices by predominantly Chinese-owned manufacturers operating in Laos and Indonesia, as well as India-headquartered companies," the petitioners said.

The Alliance consists of Hanwha Q Cells USA, First Solar and Mission Solar Energy, with support from Talon PV Solar Solutions.

"[The] announcement from the Department of Commerce is a crucial first step toward confirming the core claims of our petition: Chinese-headquartered companies in Laos and Indonesia are dumping illegally subsidized solar products into the US market at artificially low prices, undercutting American workers," Tim Brightbill, lead attorney for the Alliance and partner at Wiley Rein, said in an email. "Indian companies moved to fill in enforcement gaps after our last petition largely closed off other Southeast Asian routes."

"A strong domestic solar manufacturing industry is essential for US energy independence, meeting surging demand, and keeping utility bills in check," Brightbill added. "We're committed to ensuring trade laws are enforced to protect this vital sector and the jobs it supports."

Critics assert that adding antidumping tariffs could raises prices and hinder manufacturing growth in light of changing market dynamics, as the US adds nation-specific tariffs that could affect solar imports and President Donald Trump's sweeping new budget law accelerates the phaseout of some tax incentives for clean energy.

The alleged estimated dumping margins are 123.04% for India, 94.36% for Indonesia and 123.12% to 190.12% for Laos. The alleged subsidy rates are above de minimis, Commerce said.

Duties will be imposed to counteract the dumping and subsidization if both Commerce and the ITC make affirmative preliminary and final determinations.

The ITC is expected to release its preliminary determinations in early September.

The new trade case follows an April 2024 petition on imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, which recently concluded and led to tariffs on imports of crystalline silicon PV cells.

A Chinese Embassy spokesperson in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.