US to impose new duties on solar imports from Southeast Asia

Solar panels are the latest people of US tariffs, with duties of up to 3,521 percent connected imports from Southeast Asia successful a determination against alleged Chinese dumping. Photo: STR / AFP/File
Source: AFP

The United States connected Monday announced its volition to enforce tariffs of up to 3,521 percent connected star panels from Southeast Asia, a determination aimed astatine countering alleged Chinese subsidies and dumping successful the sector.

The tariffs connected companies from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam volition inactive request to beryllium ratified astatine a gathering of the International Trade Commission successful June.

The determination unveiled Monday comes aft anti-dumping and countervailing work investigations filed astir a twelvemonth agone by respective US and different star manufacturers.

Those companies took purpose astatine "unfair practices" that were said to person weighed connected the US home star market, peculiarly raising interest implicit Chinese-headquartered companies operating retired of the Southeast Asian countries.

While Monday's determination came aft a year-long investigation, it follows connected the heels of US President Donald Trump launching blistering commercialized wars done tariffs astir the globe.

Trump's tariffs, which person seen the White House enforce eyewateringly precocious levies earlier suspending immoderate of them to let for negotiations, are aimed astatine reducing US commercialized imbalances.

The Commerce Department's connection said the caller recommended tariffs connected star cells, however, were taking circumstantial purpose astatine "transnational subsidies."

"In the CVD investigations involving Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, Commerce recovered that companies successful each state were receiving subsidies from the Government of China," the connection said, referring to countervailing work probes.

"These are among the archetypal CVD investigations wherein Commerce has made an affirmative uncovering that companies received transnational subsidies."

The lawsuit was brought by Hanwha Qcells, First Solar, Convalt Energy and others.

For the duties to beryllium finalized, the International Trade Commission has until aboriginal June to marque a last determination.

Among firms targeted were Chinese companies Jinko Solar and Trina Solar.

Products from Cambodia are acceptable to look duties of up to 3,521 percent, according to the Commerce Department.

Jinko Solar faced duties of 40 percent for exports from Malaysia and astir 245 percent for goods from Vietnam.

Trina Solar successful Thailand volition spot duties of much than 375 percent, and much than 200 percent for products from Vietnam.

If imposed, the caller levies volition travel connected apical of the broad 10 percent levy imposed by Trump since aboriginal April connected products entering the United States from astir trading partners.

In 2023, the United States imported $11.9 cardinal successful star cells from the countries named successful the latest action, according to authoritative data.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck retired quality that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” artifact connected the location leafage and enjoy!

Source: AFP