PVTIME – The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced its preliminary findings in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation into imports of crystalline silicon solar cells and modules from India, Indonesia and Laos. Launched in response to a petition filed by the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing and Trade (AASMT) in August 2025, the ruling imposes substantial CVD rates, with the highest exceeding 143%. The final determination is scheduled for 6 July 2026.
Under the preliminary decision, the US will impose countervailing duties on imports from these three countries. In India, Mundra Solar Energy Limited and Mundra Solar PV Limited (both subsidiaries of the Adani Group) and all other Indian companies will face a subsidy rate of 125.87%.
In Indonesia, PT Blue Sky Solar Indonesia has been assigned an individual rate of 143.30%, while PT REC Solar Energy Indonesia has been assigned a rate of 85.99%. All other Indonesian firms have been assigned a general rate of 104.38%. In Laos, Solarspace Technology SOLE CO. Ltd., Vietnam Sunergy Joint Stock Company, and all other Laotian companies, a preliminary CVD rate of 80.67%.
The AASMT alleges that relevant enterprises have shifted their manufacturing chains from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam to these three countries in order to evade existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties. The alliance notes that PV imports from Indonesia surged by over 500% to reach $2.5 billion in 2025, while imports from Laos also increased by over 500% to reach $1.5 billion, both of which were hindered by unfair trade practices.
The preliminary ruling requires US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin collecting cash deposits immediately to offset government subsidies received by exporters from these countries. The DOC also expects to issue its preliminary anti-dumping duty determination on 21 April 2026.
Once the US International Trade Commission (ITC) releases its final injury determination on 19 October 2026, the relevant duty orders will be formally issued on 26 October 2026.
Tim Bright, lead counsel for the AASMT and co-chair of Wiley Rein’s International Trade Practice, said that today’s findings were a significant step towards restoring fair competition in the US solar market. He added that American manufacturers were investing billions of dollars in rebuilding domestic capacity and creating high-wage jobs, but that these investments could not succeed if imports were allowed to distort the market through unfair trading practices.
The new tariffs are expected to increase procurement costs for large-scale US projects in the short term. This could benefit US domestic manufacturers by making their prices more competitive. Meanwhile, exporters in the affected nations may seek to diversify into other markets, such as Africa, Europe and the Middle East, which would put them in direct competition with Chinese suppliers.
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