US Solar Industry Faces Major Shifts Amid AD/CVD Investigations and Tariffs
The solar industry in the US is facing significant changes due to recent policy measures. In July 2025, a petition for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty (AD/CVD) investigations was initiated, targeting India, Indonesia, and Laos. This follows increased tariffs on solar imports from various regions in April 2025.
US solar project developers are reassessing their strategies in response to rising import barriers and cost fluctuations. They are prioritizing domestic supply chains and investing in supplier audits and compliance systems to manage policy risks and compliance uncertainty.
Chinese-funded companies are shifting manufacturing capacity to third countries like Indonesia and Laos to avoid AD/CVD. However, this trend is being reversed for countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam due to new tariff policies. The US Department of Commerce has not specified which companies established local solar module production in the targeted countries.
The April 2025 tariffs led to contract renegotiations and fulfillment challenges, causing project delays. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted recently, is also impacting the solar industry.
The solar industry is adapting to these changes, with developers rethinking procurement strategies and supply chains. The recent policy measures and tariffs are significantly influencing global manufacturing plans and project development strategies. The industry awaits the final AD/CVD rulings to better understand the long-term impacts on solar project development.
