US mulls tariffs on solar panels from India

The U.S. Commerce Department is set to announce a preliminary decision regarding potential anti-subsidy tariffs on solar panels and cells imported from India, Laos, and Indonesia. This decision marks an important step in a trade case initiated by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, which includes companies like South Korea's Hanwha Qcells and Arizona's First Solar. These firms are advocating for protective measures to safeguard their investments in U.S. solar manufacturing against what they claim are unfair practices by foreign competitors. The allegations suggest that manufacturers in these countries, particularly those based in India, might be benefiting from government subsidies that distort market competition, allowing them to sell products at prices lower than production costs. The decision, expected on Monday, will be followed by another ruling next month examining whether these countries have engaged in dumping practices. The petition was filed in July, aiming to address concerns that Chinese manufacturers have shifted production to evade U.S. tariffs, raising the stakes for both domestic and international stakeholders in the solar energy sector. Final determinations on these tariffs will follow later this year, potentially reshaping the landscape for solar imports into the U.S. market.