The US federal government has imposed tariffs on solar energy imports from Southeast Asia, while those in the US solar energy industry have warned of the possibility of additional tariffs on imports of solar cells and panels from Southeast Asian countries, namely Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and India.

These warnings come amid growing concerns that imports of cheap panels undermine existing tariff protection restrictions and government efforts to increase domestic production. At least one American manufacturer has filed a complaint with the US government requesting a new investigation into solar energy imports from those countries.

The complaint includes accusations of distributing the production of solar panels within the United States at prices lower than production costs. It may also contain allegations that the supplying companies benefit from unfair subsidies. The manufacturers called on the administration of US President Joe Biden to extend the imposition of current customs duties to include double-sided panels that are currently exempt from duties. .

The Biden administration is facing pressure to protect American solar companies, especially with the presidential elections approaching in November 2024. The tariff exemption imposed on solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam is scheduled to end next June, and the government warns of imposing additional duties on equipment imported from those countries. Countries if not in use by early December.

These developments are raising concerns among solar panel buyers who rely on cheap imports manufactured from abroad to make their projects more competitive. In contrast, it welcomed the solar component manufacturing industry in America, which has been struggling for years due to competition with China.

Investigations by the US Department of Commerce revealed that 5 Chinese companies that manufacture solar panels and their components are evading US customs duties laws by making minor changes to the products in those countries and then shipping them to the US market.

Developments in this file remain under follow-up, with the final decision regarding opening a new investigation and imposing additional customs duties on solar energy imports from Southeast Asia awaited. It is expected that the US solar industry's concerns will increase competition with cheap imports from Southeast Asia, and additional tariffs may be imposed on solar energy imports from those countries. The Biden administration is facing pressure to protect American solar companies, and this file raises concern among solar panel buyers. who depend on cheap imports.