US trade officials have finalized high tariff rates on solar cells from Southeast Asia, concluding a trade case initiated by American manufacturers accusing Chinese firms of unfair pricing practices. The case, brought by Korea’s Hanwha Qcells and Arizona-based First Solar Inc., seeks to protect US solar manufacturing investments. The proposed tariffs vary significantly, with duties on Cambodian products reaching over 3,500% due to non-cooperation in the investigation. If approved by the International Trade Commission in June, these tariffs aim to counteract alleged harm caused by dumped and subsidized imports. The threat of such tariffs has already reshaped global solar trade dynamics, with imports from targeted countries dropping sharply while shipments from other nations like Laos and Indonesia have risen. Critics argue that imposing tariffs could harm US solar producers by raising costs for imported components used in domestic assembly.
— new from CNN
