The U.S. International Trade Commission has finally made an affirmative determination in its antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation concerning silicon solar cells and panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. That means it has confirmed that US industry is harmed by imports from these markets, leading to the next step, ie Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin collecting duties on product in less than a month.
The Dept. of Commerce had released its final tariff calculations last month with imposition of tariffs on Cambodia ranging from 650% to 3,500%; Malaysian tariffs range from 14% to 250%; Thai tariffs range from 375% to 972%; and Vietnamese tariffs range from 120% to 813%. The move is expected to support Indian exports to the US market, besides manufacturers like Waaree that have a domestic US presence as well.
The investigation had been started in April last year following a complaint by an association of American Solar manufacturers who had alleged backdoor Chinese entry into the US market from these countries through subsidised manufacturing. The ITC has broadly agreed with those contentions.
SEIA, which is a group more aligned to the consumption side of solar, ie, developers and installers, was ranged against the move, as it feared a rise in costs for end consumers that would slow down solar uptake in the US. Incidentally, US domestic solar module manufacturing capacity recently hit 50 GW, which is considered a level good enough to meet domestic demand.
The Dept. of Commerce will issue its tariff orders on June 9, and then CBP will begin collecting duties on June 16.
Batteries In Focus Next
For China, the SE Asian setback might have been anticipated, but more trouble looms ahead. The Department of commerce is also moving ahead into its investigation into anode material imports for batteries from China next.
The Department has released its preliminary countervailing duties (CVD) in the trade case involving battery anode material from China. Preliminary antidumping (AD) rates should be revealed in July. The U.S. ITC has already made an affirmative preliminary decision in this matter.
The investigation was first petitioned in December 2024 by the American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP). The rate on all others is lower than expected, but industry expects that to go up once the investigation is complete.
Battery anode materials are typically carbon-based — like graphite powder or silicon oxide. The duties could be levied against anode materials whether they’re imported separately, in a compound or in a finished battery. With the preliminary CVD rates released, Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting CVD in addition to the existing tariffs already imposed on lithium battery imports from China.
Department of commerce usually takes two months to release rates, so July in this case. Final determinations should be out by September/October, followed by the ITC’s final determination in November.
