US plans to impose anti-dumping duties on Southeast Asian photovoltaic products

The US Department of Commerce recently announced plans to impose anti-dumping duties of up to approximately 271%on photovoltaic products from relevant countries.This plan has been questioned by the media and relevant national figures.

According to the preliminary ruling made by the US Department of Commerce after investigation,the proposed anti-dumping duties involve crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules imported from Cambodia,Malaysia,Thailand,and Vietnam,with specific tax rates depending on different companies.The United States mainly imports solar cells and modules from the above-mentioned countries,accounting for about 80%of the country’s imports of such products.

The investigation by the US Department of Commerce was conducted based on a petition submitted by the US Solar Manufacturing Alliance Trade Committee in April of this year.

US media reports indicate that some foreign manufacturers and domestic renewable energy developers in the United States believe that anti-dumping tariffs will give unfair advantages to larger photovoltaic panel manufacturers operating in the US,while also increasing the cost of solar projects.

Joseph Matthews,a senior professor at Cambodia’s Bertay International University,said that imposing anti-dumping duties on products from ASEAN countries is illogical,cannot revive domestic industries in the United States,and will also impose higher costs and losses on American importers and consumers.

The final ruling of the US Department of Commerce’s trade investigation is expected to be announced in April next year,and the US International Trade Agency will make a ruling and announce the final policy in June next year.