Washington plans up to 3,521% tariffs on Southeast Asian solar panels

The United States plans to impose heavy tariffs on solar panels from four Asian countries, citing transnational subsidies supported by China.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

The United States government has announced its intention to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on solar panels imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The measure aims to offset what Washington describes as unfair foreign subsidies in the photovoltaic industry, granted by China to firms operating in these Southeast Asian countries.

According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), a division of the US Department of Commerce, an investigation launched in April 2024 found that companies in each of the targeted countries received subsidies directly from the Chinese government. The ITA described the case as a rare example of transnational subsidisation, underscoring the unprecedented scope of its findings.

Targeted measures and differentiated rates

The proposed tariffs vary by country and affected company. Malaysia would face an average tariff rate of 34.41% on its solar panels, while Cambodian products could be subject to a maximum rate of 651.85%. However, two Cambodian firms, Hounen Solar and Solar Long PV-Tech, were assigned a specific rate of 3,521%, representing a surcharge more than thirty-five times the price of their goods.

The International Trade Commission (ITC), another agency under the Department of Commerce, is tasked with assessing the impact of these subsidies on US manufacturers. A decision is expected by 2 June, at which point the ITC will determine whether the proposed tariffs should be implemented.

A multi-billion dollar trade issue

The targeted imports amounted to roughly $12bn (€11.2bn) in 2023, according to official data from the Department of Commerce. If confirmed, the tariffs would add to the 10% duties imposed since 2 April on most imports entering the US under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Additionally, the new duties would stack atop the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs announced on the same day, which were paused one week later. For Vietnam, this could result in a combined tariff burden of approximately 38%, highlighting the potential trade barriers for regional suppliers.

The underlying investigation was initiated following a petition by the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, a consortium of major US solar manufacturers. The organisation alleged that the Southeast Asian entities involved were operating as subsidiaries of Chinese industrial actors and were thus benefitting from indirect government support mechanisms.

Doral Renewables has signed a power purchase agreement for 75% of the output from its Cold Creek Solar project, expanding its contracted portfolio to over 1.6 GW nationwide.
SNCF Voyageurs secures direct solar electricity supply from two plants owned by Octopus Energy and BayWa r.e., through 25-year agreements aimed at powering its rail network.
The end of China's VAT rebate and reduced output bring an end to eighteen months of historically low prices in solar and storage sectors.
The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects has shortlisted several companies for Phase III of the Al Dibdibah solar plant, with a net capacity of 500 MW.
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has agreed to examine compensation claims by ACME Solar and AMPIN Energy, citing losses caused by non-operational transmission lines.
Waaree Energies has activated a new 950 MW photovoltaic module production line in Degam, strengthening its industrial investment programme in western India.
India opens a new rooftop solar tender phase, offering 3,640 kW under the RESCO model, with a pre-bid meeting held online on October 6 by Solar Energy Corporation of India.
The Japanese developer has reached a total of 100MW in solar capacity under power purchase agreements with Microsoft, spread across four projects in the country, two of which are already operational.
SNCF Énergie signed four new renewable electricity purchase agreements with Neoen in July, covering the annual consumption equivalent of the TGV Paris–Bordeaux line.
RWE has inaugurated a 4 megawatt-peak solar park in Charente-Maritime, built on a former municipal landfill site and capable of supplying electricity to approximately 1,500 households.
Producer Red Rocket has finalised financing for a 331 MWp solar park in Mpumalanga, backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Discovery Green.
Sun Investment Group has launched a crowdfunding campaign with Enerfip to raise up to €1.6mn ($1.7mn) to support the development of twelve photovoltaic plants in Italy totalling 113 MW.
GreenYellow will develop a 1.5 MWp photovoltaic plant in Mauritius for Volailles et Traditions, with an expected annual output of 2.45 GWh fed into the national power grid.
An alternative energy scenario proposes increasing solar and storage capacity by 2037 to reduce fossil fuel dependence and cut electricity generation costs in Thailand.
Osaka Gas and Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure have formed a partnership to expand their renewable energy business with the acquisition of a 25MW solar power plant in Kyoto, formerly owned by Kyocera TCL Solar.
Global South Utilities, filiale de Resources Investment LTD, inaugure à N’Djamena la centrale Noor Chad de 50 MW avec 5 MWh de stockage, dimensionnée pour alimenter des centaines de milliers de foyers et exploitée directement par l’entreprise.
Nine African countries will receive €545mn ($638mn) in European Union funding to support rural electrification and strengthen regional renewable energy infrastructure.
TotalEnergies will transfer half of a 1.4 gigawatt solar portfolio to KKR, strengthening its position in the North American power market while securing $950 million through the sale and bank refinancing.
EDP, via EDP Renewables, inaugurates in Menestreau (Nièvre) a photovoltaic park of nearly 16MWc, comprising 29,630 panels and designed to produce about 19GWh per year, in co-activity with sheep farming.
The transaction creates the fifth-largest US residential solar player by installed megawatts, doubles the sales force to 1,734 representatives and targets a record operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2025.