US to make tariff decision on solar panels from India, Indonesia and Laos

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Commerce Department is set to announce a preliminary decision on anti-subsidy duties for solar cells and panels imported from India, Laos, and Indonesia, which could impact the U.S. solar manufacturing sector [1] Group 1: Anti-Subsidy Duties - The upcoming decision will assess whether companies in the three countries received unfair government subsidies that undermine the competitiveness of American products [2] - A separate decision regarding potential market flooding by these companies at prices below their production costs is expected next month [2] Group 2: Industry Representation - The Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, which includes companies like Hanwha Qcells and First Solar, aims to protect significant investments in U.S. manufacturing [3] - The group's petition, filed in July, alleges that Chinese companies have shifted production to Indonesia and Laos to evade U.S. tariffs and accuses Indian manufacturers of dumping low-cost goods in the U.S. market [3] Group 3: Previous Successes - The Alliance has previously succeeded in imposing tariffs on imports from several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand [4]