The application was filed by the U.S. Solar Manufacturing Alliance Trade Council, which includes U.S. solar manufacturers Convalt Energy, First Solar, Meyer Burger, Mission Solar, Qcells, REC Silicon and startup Swift Solar. The committee is represented by Washington law firm Wiley Rein LLP.

"U.S. solar manufacturing is on the cusp of tremendous growth that will create jobs and change the trajectory of our clean energy transition over the coming decades," said Tim Brightbill, co-chairman and general counsel of Wiley's international trade practice.

However, this manufacturing renaissance is threatened by industrial policies in Asian countries, which have led to massive subsidies in China and Southeast Asia, to the point of massive dumping in global markets, including the United States, to the detriment of our domestic producers, and we Work to enforce these rules, undo the damage to our domestic solar industry, and send a signal that the United States will not become a dumping ground for foreign solar products. "

The new filing comes eight months after the Commerce Department extended anti-dumping/countervailing programs to Chinese solar manufacturers in Southeast Asia. The expanded anti-dumping/countervailing program allows manufacturers that use non-Chinese silicon wafers or at least four solar components produced outside China (silver paste, aluminum frame, glass, backsheet, EVA board, junction box) to be exempted from anti-dumping/countervailing duties Plan restrictions.

These provisions represent a relatively easy supply chain change for Chinese companies operating in Southeast Asia, allowing them to escape the violations listed in anti-dumping/countervailing decisions.

The application seeks to directly address "the unfair trade practices of these solar manufacturers in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam."

The U.S. Commerce Department now has 20 days to decide whether to launch an investigation. If an investigation is conducted, the U.S. International Trade Commission will make a preliminary determination within 45 days whether material harm or a threat of material harm exists, and is expected to make a final determination in the spring of 2025.

On April 24, after receiving the application news, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the American Clean Power Association (ACP), the Advanced Energy Federation and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) issued a joint petition statement:

This application has brought market uncertainty to the U.S. solar industry and poses a potential threat to the construction of the domestic solar supply chain. America's energy security depends on building a strong domestic solar supply chain, which our members strongly support, and advanced manufacturing tax credits and incentives are working to drive historic investment in U.S. solar manufacturing and provide support for the U.S. solar supply chain. Build domestic production capacity.

We are deeply concerned that antidumping/countervailing filings will lead to further market volatility across the U.S. solar and storage industries and create uncertainty at a time when we need effective solutions that can support U.S. solar manufacturers. We need constructive action, such as advanced manufacturing tax credits and other policies, to expand domestic solar manufacturing and deploy clean energy at scale and quickly to meet growing power demand.

The U.S. clean energy industry urges the Biden administration to consider additional solutions to address the petitioners’ concerns to elevate U.S. manufacturers and keep the clean energy economy thriving across the value chain.

Solar tracking system manufacturer Array Technologies has also expressed concerns about the new petition. Company CEO Kevin G. Hostetler said: "This case is bad news for clean energy jobs and U.S. solar manufacturing. The tariff threat itself will have a negative impact on solar energy." The Inflation Reduction Act creates significant disruption to the industry and hurts manufacturers like Array that rely on booming markets to do business. Manufacturer of inverters, electrical balancing systems and polysilicon.

We need to continue to expand the deployment of solar energy to create jobs and strengthen our energy independence. More tariffs will only lead to uncertainty and unnecessary project delays, hindering the United States from achieving its clean energy deployment and manufacturing goals. "trina solar panels