Solar Panel Power Generation Foreign Trade

Are Southeast Asian solar panels evading US trade rules?

The Department of Commerce has determined that solar panel manufacturers in four Southeast Asian countries are evading U.S. trade rules by using Chinese-sourced materials subject to tariffs without paying applicable duties.

Why is the global solar PV product trade important?

The global solar PV product trade plays an important role in facilitating PV product production and utilization and in mitigating climate change. Traded solar cells and modules in 2017 could generate 2325.25 TWh of electricity over their 30-year lifetimes.

Will European solar panels be able to trade with China?

European solar panel manufacturers have previously asked the EU to consider trade safeguards on Chinese imports, but Brussels and governments including Germany have warned broad curbs on Chinese supply could stunt Europe's fast expansion of clean energy.

Can solar panels be imported from Cambodia?

Solar panels can be imported from Cambodia without fear of steep retroactive tariffs for the next two years under the Defense Production Act. The administration announced this compromise on Monday, allowing the solar industry some certainty as they await the Commerce Department's decision on the investigation.

How has global solar PV manufacturing capacity changed over the last decade?

Global solar PV manufacturing capacity has increasingly moved from Europe, Japan and the United States to China over the last decade. China has invested over USD 50 billion in new PV supply capacity – ten times more than Europe − and created more than 300 000 manufacturing jobs across the solar PV value chain since 2011.

Will India face a shortage of solar panels if foreign supply disappears?

India argued that since it had “abysmally low” domestic production capacity, and since it plans to sharply ramp up its deployment of solar power, it could face a shortage of solar panels if foreign supply were to disappear. The panel was unmoved by this objection.