The U.S. Department of Commerce announced final affirmative determinations on April 21, 2025, finding that crystalline photovoltaic cell imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are being dumped in the U.S. market and are receiving countervailable subsidies. Commerce also found that companies in all four countries were receiving subsidies from the Government of China, findings the agency described as among the first affirmative determinations of transnational subsidies in a countervailing duty investigation. The cases are now before the International Trade Commission, which has until June 2, 2025, to issue its final injury determination.
What it means
Whether antidumping and countervailing duty orders are actually imposed depends on the ITC’s next step. If the ITC makes an affirmative, country-specific injury determination, Commerce will institute AD and CVD orders on solar panel cells from each country where injury is found. If the ITC makes a negative determination for any country, no orders will be issued for that country. The transnational subsidy findings — that Chinese government subsidies flowed through companies operating in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam — are, according to Commerce, among the first of their kind in a CVD investigation.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said in the announcement: “The Commerce Department is holding China accountable for its transnational subsidies through other countries that harm American industry. Market-distorting, unfair trade practices against America have no place to hide.” He also said: “The Commerce Department continues to enforce our trade laws fully so that we can rebuild U.S. manufacturing and restore American competitiveness. We must ensure a level playing field for American businesses and workers.”
Key facts
- Product: crystalline photovoltaic cells (solar panel cells)
- Countries subject to AD and CVD investigations: Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam
- Commerce finding: dumping and countervailable subsidies confirmed for all four countries
- Transnational subsidy finding: companies in all four countries found to be receiving subsidies from the Government of China
- ITC final injury determination deadline: June 2, 2025
- Cambodia case numbers: A-555-003 (AD), C-555-004 (CVD)
- Malaysia case numbers: A-557-830 (AD), C-557-831 (CVD)
- Thailand case numbers: A-549-851 (AD), C-549-852 (CVD)
- Vietnam case numbers: A-552-841 (AD), C-552-842 (CVD)
- Case records available on ACCESS (Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic System), free to registered users
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration news release (trade.gov)