The U.S. Commerce Department has announced preliminary anti-subsidy duties on solar cells and panels imported from companies in India, Indonesia, and Laos. This move is a response to what U.S. officials have determined are unfair government subsidies giving foreign manufacturers an advantage.
The agency calculated initial subsidy rates at 125.87% for imports from India, 104.38% for those from Indonesia, and 80.67% for imports from Laos. These three countries were significant suppliers last year, accounting for approximately $4.5 billion in solar imports—nearly two-thirds of the total for 2025.
This announcement is the first of two major decisions expected in a trade case brought by a coalition of U.S. solar manufacturers. The group, which includes major companies that have invested heavily in domestic factories, argues that these imports distort the market and threaten billions of dollars in U.S. investments.
The lead attorney for the manufacturing alliance praised the decision, calling it an important step toward restoring fair competition. “American manufacturers are investing billions to rebuild domestic capacity and create good-paying jobs,” he said in a statement. “Those investments cannot succeed if unfairly traded imports are allowed to distort the market.”
In addition to the general rates, the Commerce Department also calculated specific duties for individual companies within the three countries, including Mundra Solar in India and several manufacturers in Indonesia and Laos.