Why are US tariffs on solar panels coming to Southeast Asia?

Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. trade officials announced on Friday a new round of tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian nations after American manufacturers complained that companies there are flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods.

Can Southeast Asia's solar panels compete with US manufacturers?

“When prices of finished panels from Southeast Asia come in below our bill of materials cost, American manufacturers cannot compete,” Rashid said, adding that “if foreign producers are circumventing US law and causing harm to US producers like Auxin Solar, it needs to be addressed.”

What are solar panel import tariffs?

Solar panel import tariffs are primarily intended to support the development of a new U.S.-based solar module manufacturing supply chain, which is financially backed by the Inflation Reduction Act. This act introduces a series of tax credits designed to bolster domestic manufacturers. For solar modules, the credits are as follows:

Why are American solar manufacturers pushing for more protections?

American solar manufacturers are pushing for further protections for their new factories against cheaply priced imports from China. Tariffs on some solar products made by Chinese companies in Southeast Asia were reinstated on Thursday after a two-year pause. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

How have Chinese manufacturers responded to US solar tariffs?

Chinese manufacturers have responded to U.S. solar tariffs by moving their massive operations to nations where they will not face duties - including Southeast Asia.

Are solar imports from Southeast Asia unfairly benefiting from government aid?

Those nations provide the bulk of US solar cell and module imports. The announcement comes nearly two months after the US agency issued preliminary findings from a separate but related probe that the solar imports from Southeast Asia are unfairly benefiting from government aid.