The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted on Friday to move forward with an investigation into whether solar panels imported from India, Laos and Indonesia are harming American manufacturers, a step that could eventually result in tariffs.
The unanimous decision by the three-member panel was seen as a win for domestic producers, who argue that Chinese-owned and other companies operating in those countries receive unfair subsidies and are selling solar equipment below production cost in the United States. The case was initiated in July by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, a coalition that includes First Solar and Hanwha Qcells.
“Today’s ITC decision confirms what our petitions allege: U.S. solar manufacturers are being undercut and harmed by unfairly traded imports. Chinese-owned and other companies in Laos, Indonesia, and India are gaming the system with unfair practices that are gutting U.S. jobs and investment,” said Tim Brightbill, lead counsel to the alliance and partner at Wiley Rein LLP.
Imports from the three countries surged to $1.6 billion last year from $289 million in 2022, according to the alliance. Industry groups believe many of these shipments were redirected from Southeast Asian countries already subject to U.S. tariffs on solar products.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is conducting parallel investigations into whether the imports should be subject to countervailing, or anti-subsidy, duties and antidumping duties. Preliminary findings on subsidies are expected by Oct. 10, with initial antidumping determinations scheduled around Dec. 24.
