On the 15th, the United States added another 284 product lines to the list of 818 product lines under the 301 case that had been approved. The newly added products contained solar cell and component imports under 854-1.40.60. This means that these Batteries and components will become one of the products that need to be reviewed and will be subject to a 25% tariff once approved.
Trade expert John Smirnow confirmed that these tariffs will be levied simultaneously with anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese batteries and components.
It is not yet clear when this heavy hammer will fall. However, due to these anti-dumping and countervailing duties, and because Chinese PV manufacturers subsequently set up factories in Southeast Asia, Chinese batteries and components accounted for only 11% of US solar imports in the first 11 months of 2017. %.
In addition, it is unclear how many U.S. module manufacturing plants plan to use batteries imported from China. According to a document from the U.S. Trade Bureau, JinkoSolar plans to import large single crystal batteries for its new plant in Jacksonville, Florida. Crystal clear on Friday, it will purchase these batteries from factories in Malaysia, not China.
FirstSolar's thin-film components will not be affected. SunPower also stated that it will not source from China. It is not yet clear where Hanwha QCells plans to purchase batteries for its Georgian 1.6-GW plant.
