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).

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.