What tariffs are imposed on Chinese solar cells & modules?

The U.S. had imposed several trade barriers against Chinese solar cell and module imports. In addition to the original 25% tariff under the Section 301, there are anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) that have been imposed since 2012 as well as the Section 201 tariffs targeting cells and modules from all countries.

Are Chinese solar panels subject to us ad/CV tariffs?

In the solar industry, the U.S. imposed AD/CV duties on Chinese solar cells and panels in 2012 (U.S. ITA 2012). In 2014, tariffs were expanded to solar panels assembled using Chinese or Taiwanese cells regardless of country of origin (U.S. ITA 2014, 2015).

Why did the US impose a tariff on solar panels?

The U.S. government finalised steep levies on imports of solar cells and modules from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia in April, following two rounds of tariffs in June and November last year, to prevent dumping by mostly Chinese-owned factories in these countries.

Will bifacial solar panels be exempt from tariffs?

In his announcement, the President included an exemption for bifacial solar panels. This decision comes after the ITC recommended in November 2021 to extend the safeguard tariffs for an additional four years. Proclamations

How much does a tariff on a photovoltaic system cost?

When a $1 tariff is imposed on manufacturers, the final prices of installed photovoltaic (PV) systems increase by $1.35 (Houde & Wang 2022). Similarly, analysis of the 2018 U.S. tariff on washing machines indicate the cost of tariffs is passed to consumers at a rate above 100% (Flaaen et al. 2020).

How do tariffs affect the solar industry?

A study of 2018 import tariffs across various goods (steel, aluminum, solar products, and washing machines) found that by December 2018, they had cost U.S. consumers and importing firms $3.2 billion per month in added taxes and $1.4 billion per month in lost economic value (Amiti et al. 2019). Tariffs reduce solar industry employment.