REM: US solar manufacturers seeking tariffs on SE Asian imports seek to remain anonymous

An anonymous group of US solar companies seeking import tariffs on panels made by Chinese companies in three Southeast Asian nations has identified its members to Department of Commerce officials, reports Reuters. But the group has asked to remain anonymous to the public, because it says its members fear retaliation from Beijing.

The group, American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention (A-SMACC), is seeking new tariffs on solar panels imported from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. And China, they say, could in retribution cut off exports of materials that are critical to the US industry.

Any trade remedy would have benefits “significantly blunted if the Department does not allow the identities of A-SMACC members to remain confidential", the filing said, reported Reuters.

The members accuse Chinese producers of merely shifting manufacturing to these three nations to avoid duties on solar cells and panels imported from China, which dominates the world solar supply chain.

The dispute is important because the three Southeast Asian countries account for 80% of all panel imports to the United States. The administration of US President Joe Biden in September published a far-reaching plan to produce 45% of the nation’s electricity from solar energy 2050 to help combat climate change.

In late September, the US Department of Commerce delayed a decision on whether to investigate imports of solar cells and modules from the three Asian nations, with a view to imposing new tariffs. It also asked the anonymous manufacturers to identify themselves.

A decision is now expected 45 days after the commerce department received a response.

The Solar Energy Industries Association, which is the nation's largest solar trade group, opposes tariffs and described the anonymous tariff case as “meritless” in late September. “They have no case for circumvention,” it says.