US plans 2.85% tariff on solar cells imported from Vietnam, 300% for some China-associated firms
The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced its preliminary affirmative determinations in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of crystalline photovoltaic cells (solar panels) imported from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The move aims to determine the severity of certain Chinese producers shipping their solar products through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and/or Vietnam for minor processing in an attempt to avoid paying antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD).

A solar farm in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of To Quoc (Homeland) newspaper.
In a Tuesday statement regarding its preliminary decision, the U.S. Department of Commerce said the tariff is 2.85% for Vietnamese firms, except 0.81% for Boviet Solar Technology Co., Ltd.
JA Solar Vietnam Company Limited, JA Solar PV Vietnam Company Limited, and JA Solar NE Vietnam Company Limited, all associated with Chinese giant JA Solar, are subject to a 2.85% rate.
However, the U.S. Department of Commerce proposed a 292.61% rate for some China-associated firms, namely GEP New Energy Vietnam Company Limited, HT Solar Vietnam Limited Company, Shengtian New Energy Vina Co., Ltd., and Vietnam Green Energy Commercial Services Company Ltd.
The petitioner is the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, featuring notable members such as First Solar, Inc., Hanwha Q CELLS USA, Inc., and Mission Solar Energy LLC.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is set to make its final determinations of the investigations in February 2025, request the International Trade Administration to give its final determinations in March 2025, and then issue its orders in April 2025.
- Read More
US tariff unlikely to dent Vietnam’s long-term FDI appeal: broker
The U.S. tariff gap between Vietnamese goods and those from four other Southeast Asian countries would not erode Vietnam’s competitive edge in manufacturing and investment, said Hanoi-based Vietcombank Securities (VCBS).
Economy - Fri, August 8, 2025 | 12:24 pm GMT+7
Land clearance for Vietnam's North-South high-speed railway project to start on December 19
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested localities to start land clearance en masse for the gigantic North-South high-speed railway project on December 19.
Economy - Fri, August 8, 2025 | 11:52 am GMT+7
Vietnam might launch pilot digital asset exchange in August
A digital asset exchange might be launched in August on a pilot basis, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi told a government press meeting on Thursday.
Finance - Fri, August 8, 2025 | 11:25 am GMT+7
Vietnam’s steel giant Hoa Sen spends $34 mln on land near Long Thanh airport for urban development
Hoa Sen Group (HoSE: HSG), Vietnam’s top producer of coated steel products, has spent VND900 billion ($34.3 million) acquiring land for a major urban development project in the southern province of Dong Nai.
Real Estate - Fri, August 8, 2025 | 8:22 am GMT+7
Halal market presents major opportunities for Vietnamese businesses
The global Halal market is projected to reach $5 trillion by 2030, with Malaysia alone expected to hit $113.2 billion, said Shariza binti Abdul Rasheed, Halal product manager at Maybank Malaysia.
Economy - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 9:18 pm GMT+7
Steel major Hoa Phat to pour extra $130 mln into central Vietnam plant
Vietnam’s leading steelmaker, Hoa Phat Group (HoSE: HPG), will increase investment in its Dung Quat 2 iron and steel production complex by VND3.4 trillion ($129.7 million) as part of an expansion plan.
Industries - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 8:03 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s army-backed construction firm proposes 14 offshore wind power projects
Lung Lo Construction Corporation (LLC), under the Ministry of National Defense, has submitted investment proposals for 14 offshore wind power projects with a combined capacity of 9,000 MW.
Energy - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 5:07 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's agri major Hoang Anh Gia Lai fined for bond information disclosure failure
Vietnam's agri major Hoang Anh Gia Lai JSC has been fined VND92.5 million ($3,528) for failing to disclose bond-related information as required by law.
Companies - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 4:31 pm GMT+7
Northern Vietnam province accelerates $2.2 bln LNG-to-power project
Quang Ninh province will hand over 4.9 hectares of reclaimed land to the Quang Ninh LNG-fuelled power plant project before August 11, local authorities stated at a meeting on Wednesday.
Energy - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 4:17 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's seafood firms ride profit wave ahead of US tariff hike
Vietnam’s seafood companies reported surging profits in Q2/2025, driven by importers ramping up purchases ahead of new U.S. reciprocal tariffs.
Economy - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 2:21 pm GMT+7
Le Anh Tuan appointed new CEO of Dragon Capital Vietfund Management JSC
Dragon Capital Group, Vietnam's largest asset manager, has appointed Le Anh Tuan as CEO of its arm Dragon Capital Vietfund Management Joint Stock Company (DCVFM), starting from October 1, 2025.
Companies - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 2:01 pm GMT+7
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand expand local currency transaction network
Bank Indonesia, Bank Negara Malaysia, and Bank of Thailand have added new Appointed Cross Currency Dealer (ACCD) participating banks to broaden services for bilateral transactions in local currencies across the three nations, Bank Indonesia said in a statement on Tuesday.
Southeast Asia - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 12:48 pm GMT+7
ASEAN to sign MoU on regional power grid implementation
ASEAN member states are set to sign an MoU on the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid during the bloc’s Energy Ministers’ Meeting this October.
Southeast Asia - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 12:43 pm GMT+7
Vietnam overtakes Thailand to become world's second-largest rice exporter
Vietnam has outranked Thailand as the world’s second-largest rice exporter in the first half of 2025, Thai PBS reported on August 3, citing the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
Companies - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 12:41 pm GMT+7
Vietnam posts trade surplus of $10.18 bln in 7 months
Vietnam’s export earnings grew by 14.8% to $262.44 billion in the first seven months of this year, while its import turnover rose by 17.9% to $252.26 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $10.18 billion.
Economy - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 12:19 pm GMT+7
Malaysia pledges big purchases, investments with US
Malaysia has agreed to buy and invest over $240 billion (MYR1.02 trillion) in the U.S. to help reduce the trade gap between the two countries.
Southeast Asia - Thu, August 7, 2025 | 12:08 pm GMT+7