Court OKs Billions In Retroactive Solar Tariffs

Trade Court Okays Retroactive Tariffs on 2022–24 Solar Imports

What’s new:

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that President Biden’s 2022 two-year pause on AD/CVD collections for solar cells/modules from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam was unlawful.

The court cleared U.S. Customs and Border Protection to assess retroactive duties on entries between Apr. 1, 2022, and June 6, 2024.

Why it matters:

The decision could trigger billions in back duties (estimates range as high as $54 billion) on roughly 88 GW of imports. Developers and utilities that relied on low-cost Southeast Asian panels may face steep, unexpected costs, with some projects already completed now exposed to tariffs of up to 200% of their value.

The ruling is a major win for Auxin Solar and Concept Clean Energy, who argued the moratorium undermined domestic manufacturers.

Clean energy groups and developers who opposed the case warn that the retroactive charges could ripple across the industry, stall projects, and create further uncertainty in the solar supply chain.

This ruling is supported by the Solar Energies Industries Association, as well as many larger panel manufacturers and developers.

ITC opens new trade case on solar imports from India, Indonesia, Laos

What’s new:The U.S. International Trade Commission voted 3–0 to proceed with antidumping/countervailing duty probes into solar cells and panels from India, Indonesia, and Laos, after a petition from the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing & Trade.

Why it matters:U.S. manufacturers say Chinese-owned and other producers shifted output to these countries to dodge existing Southeast Asia tariffs, undercutting U.S. prices and investment. A final case could add new duties and reshape near-term module sourcing.

Gavin Newsom Fast-Tracks Clean Energy Projects

What’s new:California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order directing state agencies to accelerate permitting and interconnection for energy projects in danger of losing Inflation Reduction Act support.

Why it matters:Federal timelines tightened under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” putting tens of gigawatts of planned clean energy at risk; Newsom’s order aims to save projects before credits lapse.

The order tells the state’s Energy Working Group to immediately identify IRA-eligible projects at risk and help agencies “take all steps necessary” to speed approvals. It also instructs the CPUC to prioritize actions that connect renewable generation and battery storage to the grid over the next three years.

Sources:

Trade court orders retroactive duties on solar panels imported back in 2022

US trade court orders retroactive solar duties on Southeast Asian imports

ITC unanimously votes to investigate solar panels from India, Indonesia and Laos

US will proceed with probe of solar imports from India, Laos and Indonesia

Governor Newsom signs executive order to accelerate projects at risk of losing IRA support

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit exactsolar.substack.com