Solar Exports: Why Has US Imposed Steep Duties On Three Nations?

Recently, the US has imposed steep new duties on solar exports from India, Indonesia and Laos, as Indian solar products are facing anti-dumping and countervailing duties of more than 120%. Notably, this decision could make it more expensive for Indian manufacturers to sell solar products in the US.
The Reuters report stated that the duties follow allegations that companies in the three countries sold solar products in the US at unfairly low prices and received government subsidies that gave them an advantage over American manufacturers. Significantly, India faces a 23.4%  anti-dumping duty and a 126.9% countervailing duty under the final rates announced by the US Department of Commerce.

What about Indonesia and Laos after India on Solar exports?

Moreover, Indonesia has been allotted a 94.36% anti-dumping margin, with countervailing duties ranging from 73.2% to 173.7 %. On the contrary, Laos faces a 65.43% anti-dumping margin and countervailing duties between 82.03% and 153.67%. Interestingly, the investigation was begun by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, representing major US solar producers including first solar, Hanwha Qcells and Mission Solar Energy. Not only this, the coalition has argued that subsidised and dumped imports threaten investments and manufacturing capacity in the United States.

In addition, this solar export duty move is part of a broader US effort to curb the relocation of Chinese solar manufacturing to third countries.  Following earlier US tariffs on Chinese solar products, manufacturers expanded production in other Asian markets, including India, Indonesia and Laos. This has made the region increasingly important to US solar imports.