Will new tariffs be imposed on solar panels from Southeast Asia?

The rumors were true: A new petition has been filed to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), to apply new tariffs (both anti-dumping and countervailing duties) to imported solar cells and modules from Southeast Asia. As expected, the reaction from the U.S. solar industry depends on the source.

Could new trade probes lead to additional tariffs on solar panels?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools. Renewable energy trade groups are bracing for more upheaval around US solar imports, including possible new trade probes that could lead to additional tariffs on foreign-made panels.

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:

Are bifacial solar modules covered by the Section 201 tariff?

Initially, the Section 201 tariff excluded bifacial solar modules, as no significant U.S. production existed. However, as the U.S. module manufacturing base began to scale, the Biden administration recently reinstated a 15% tariff on bifacial modules. 2022a

How will tariffs affect solar cells in 2024?

In 2024, tariffs for electric vehicle battery cells will increase to 25%, with energy storage tariffs following suit in 2026. The direct import of solar cells from China was less than 1% in 2021, underscoring the limited direct impact on solar cells these tariffs may have in the U.S. market.

Why do solar project developers oppose tariffs?

Solar project developers have long opposed tariffs because they rely on cheap imports to keep their costs low. Four clean energy trade groups, whose members include developers and installers, said they opposed the new petition.