Hanwha Q Cells-led petition pays off as US slaps up to 268% tariffs on Indian, Indonesian solar

The US government has officially determined that solar products from India, Indonesia and Laos injured the domestic industry, finalizing tariffs of up to 268%. The trade defense campaign led by Hanwha Solutions' Q Cells division (Hanwha Q Cells) is expected to further strengthen its price competitiveness in the US market.

According to the US Federal Register on Nov. 5, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) made a final determination that the US industry was materially injured by crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules imported from the three countries. The investigation began in July 2025 following a petition by the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing and Trade (AASMT), formed by Hanwha Q Cells' US subsidiary and local manufacturers including First Solar. The alliance reportedly argued that foreign companies had shifted production bases to the three countries to evade existing tariffs and were waging a low-price offensive.

Under the final duty rates previously set by the US Commerce Department, large-scale tariffs will be imposed on solar products imported from these countries. Indonesian products face a maximum 268% tariff, combining a 94.36% anti-dumping duty and up to 173.7% countervailing duty. Indian products face a combined rate of about 249%, and Laotian products up to 219%. In particular, the ITC affirmed critical circumstances for Indonesian imports, finding that imports surged during a specific period, opening the way for retroactive tariffs on past imports.

The measures are aimed at blocking the Southeast Asian detour export routes of Chinese solar companies. The US has already imposed tariffs on four Southeast Asian countries — Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam — but volumes seeking to avoid those duties have flooded into Indonesia and elsewhere, continuing market disruption. According to foreign trade statistics, the three countries' solar exports to the US reached $1.54 billion (about 2.14 trillion won) in 2024.

With the ITC's final determination erecting high tariff barriers, local manufacturers that had been suffering from low-priced imports can now recover their sales networks. Hanwha Q Cells, which is building Solar Hub, the largest integrated solar production complex in North America, in Georgia, has secured a foundation to defend its market share and further solidify its local supply chain as Chinese detour volumes are blocked. Following the ITC's injury determination, the Commerce Department will soon issue a final tariff order and begin official cash deposit and collection procedures.

※ This article is an AI translation of the Korean original published by Korea Credit News; it was checked by automated quality guards and published by the English edition desk.