US sets preliminary anti-dumping duties on solar imports

The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued preliminary affirmative determinations in its anti-dumping (AD) duty investigations on solar cell and module imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos. The decision introduces high provisional duty rates and expands trade actions affecting a supply chain that delivered $4.5 billion in solar products to the United States in 2025.

Commerce set preliminary dumping margins at 123.04% for India, 35.17% for Indonesia, and 22.46% for Laos. The investigations were initiated in August 2025 following a petition by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, which includes First Solar, Hanwha Qcells, and Mission Solar. The group stated that low-priced imports were weakening domestic manufacturing during a phase of capacity expansion.

The AD duties add to preliminary countervailing duties (CVD) imposed in February 2026 to address subsidisation. Combined duty exposure has increased significantly. For India, total preliminary rates now stand at about 234% for most producers. Indonesian exporters face combined duties ranging between 121% and 178%, while Laos has a combined preliminary rate of around 103%.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection will require importers to provide cash deposits based on these preliminary rates. Official data indicates that the three countries together accounted for nearly two-thirds of US solar imports in 2025, highlighting the scope of the measures.

The duties take effect immediately as deposit requirements but remain subject to final determinations. Commerce has scheduled final rulings for India and Indonesia on July 13, 2026, and for Laos on or around September 9, 2026. The U.S. International Trade Commission will then assess whether the imports caused material injury to domestic industry, with its final decision due on October 19, 2026. A negative finding would end the investigations and lead to refunds of collected deposits, while an affirmative outcome would result in final duty orders issued on October 26, 2026.

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