US Announces Preliminary Duties on Solar Imports from India, Indonesia, Laos

The United States Department of Commerce announced preliminary countervailing duties on February 24, 2026, targeting solar cells and panels imported from India, Indonesia, and Laos, in an effort to address alleged unfair government subsidies that benefit foreign manufacturers. The duties, set at 125.87 percent for certain Indian solar goods, between 86 and 143 percent for Indonesian shipments, and 81 percent for those from Laos, aim to level the playing field for American producers.

The decision stems from an investigation initiated in July 2025 by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, a group representing U.S. solar firms including Hanwha Qcells and First Solar. The alliance accused governments in the three countries of providing subsidies that allow exporters to undercut domestic prices, distorting the U.S. market. According to Commerce Department data, solar imports from these nations totaled $4.5 billion in the previous year, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all U.S. solar imports. Imports from India alone surged to $792.6 million in 2024, up from $83.86 million in 2022, while the three countries supplied 57 percent of U.S. solar module imports in the...