U.S. Slaps Preliminary Duties of Up to 125% on Solar Imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos

The U.S. Commerce Department has imposed steep preliminary countervailing duties on solar cells and panels imported from India, Indonesia, and Laos, siding with domestic manufacturers who argue that foreign subsidies are distorting the American market. In a ruling announced Tuesday, the agency calculated general subsidy rates of 125.87% for India, 104.38% for Indonesia, and 80.67% for Laos. The decision targets $4.5 billion worth of solar imports from the three countries last year—roughly two-thirds of total U.S. solar imports in 2025, according to trade data. Commerce officials concluded that companies operating in those nations benefited from government support that made U.S.-made products uncompetitive. The move marks the latest chapter in a decade-long series of trade actions aimed at countering low-cost Asian solar imports, many linked to Chinese supply chains. The case was brought by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, a coalition that includes Hanwha Qcells, First Solar, and Mission Solar. The group argues that billions of dollars invested in U.S. solar factories are at risk without trade enforcement. “American manufacturers are investing billions to rebuild domestic capacity,” said lead attorney Tim Brightbill, calling the ruling “an important step toward restoring fair competition.” The Commerce Department also issued company-specific rates, including 143.3% for Indonesia’s PT Blue Sky Solar and 125.87% for India’s Mundra Solar. A separate determination on whether companies dumped products below production cost is expected next month, with a final decision in the subsidy investigation due in July. The outcome could further reshape global solar supply chains and influence U.S. clean energy deployment.