US solar panel tariffs could drive Southeast Asia transition boom

Massive planned US duties on solar panels made in South East Asia could be a chance for the region to ramp up its own long-stalled energy transition, experts say.

- 

Earlier this month, Washington announced plans for hefty duties on solar panels made in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.

The levies follow an investigation, launched before US President Donald Trump took office, into “unfair practices” in the countries, particularly by Chinese-headquartered firms.

If approved next month, they will pile upon tariffs already imposed by the Trump administration, including blanket 10-percent levies for most countries, and 145 per cent on Chinese-made goods.

For the US market, the consequences are likely to be severe. China makes eight out of every 10 solar panels globally, and controls 80 per cent of every stage of the manufacturing process.

The new tariffs “will practically make solar exports to US impossible commercially”, said Putra Adhiguna, managing director at the Energy Shift Institute think tank.