Trade

US Anti-Dumping/Countervailing Duty Investigation on Laos, Indonesia, and India Solar Products: How Should Enterprises Respond?

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OU Yingshi , HUANG Enlin
9 MIN READ
ABSTRACT

On July 16, 2025, the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing and Trade (AASMT) submitted anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) petitions against imports of solar products from Indonesia, Laos, and India to the US Department of Commerce.

I. Event Background

On July 16, 2025, the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing and Trade (AASMT) submitted AD/CVD petitions against imports of solar products from Indonesia, Laos, and India to the US Department of Commerce.

The author notes this is the second time AASMT has filed such petitions in the solar sector. On April 24, 2024, AASMT petitioned for AD/CVD investigations on Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia solar modules, resulting in high tariffs on products from those countries and significantly increased trade costs for Chinese enterprises, which relocated production to Indonesia, Laos and other countries not yet targeted by US “double anti” investigations.

Background: Chinese enterprises relocated to Southeast Asia to avoid US tariffs, followed by Indian companies following suit. AASMT views this capacity transfer as bypassing US trade remedy measures, causing harm to US domestic solar manufacturing, prompting these petitions.

II. Key Petition Information

A. Countries Targeted

Indonesia, Laos, and India. Alleged dumping margins: Indonesia 89.65%, India 213.96%, Laos 245.79%-249.09%.

B. Investigation Period

  • Anti-dumping (Case numbers: Indonesia A-560-847, India A-533-938, Laos A-553-003): July 2024 - June 2025
  • Countervailing (Case numbers: Indonesia C-560-848, India C-533-939, Laos C-553-004): January - December 2024

C. Product Scope

Covered merchandise includes crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, and modules, laminates, and panels consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells. Exclusions include thin film photovoltaic products and small off-grid panels.

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III. US DOC Investigation Procedures and Timeline

A. Procedures

  • DOC issues questionnaires to exporters/producers
  • Largest exporters selected as mandatory respondents
  • Preliminary determination typically 140-190 days after filing
  • Final determination 75-135 days after preliminary
  • ITC injury investigation runs parallel

B. Timeline

Anti-dumping investigation expected timeline:

  • Case filing: July 17, 2025
  • DOC initiation: August 6, 2025
  • ITC preliminary: August 31, 2025
  • DOC preliminary (190 days): February 12, 2026
  • DOC final (135 days): July 4, 2026
  • ITC final: August 18, 2026

IV. How Should Chinese Enterprises Respond?

A. Actively Participate in Proceedings

Chinese solar module manufacturers with production capacity in Indonesia, Laos, and India must actively respond. If not participating, importers may face high tariffs and abandon purchasing, causing loss of US market.

B. Conduct Advance Compliance Layout

Enhance cross-border compliance awareness, embed AD/CVD compliance requirements into procurement, production, and export processes. Strengthen trade friction early warning, dynamically track regulation changes.

C. Seek Professional Legal Support

Engage professional lawyers for comprehensive legal services including case evaluation, questionnaire response, and subsequent procedures like administrative reviews, sunset reviews, and new exporter reviews.

V. Conclusion

The upcoming US double anti investigation on Indonesian, Lao, and Indian solar products presents enormous challenges for Chinese solar module manufacturers. Facing US “encirclement and suppression,” Chinese manufacturers need to take multi-pronged approaches: build firewalls through compliance awareness, restructure supply chains when necessary, and actively use legal means to protect legitimate rights when investigations occur.

As long as enterprises actively respond, prepare in advance, and convert risk awareness into normalized management, they can survive and thrive in the complex international trade environment.

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RESEARCH TEAM

欧颖诗
OU Yingshi Partner

Ou Yingshi is a Partner at Long An (Guangzhou) Law Firm, Director of the Sanctions and Anti-Dumping/Anti-Subsidy Professional Committee at Long An Guangzhou, Director of the Sanctions and Anti-Dumping/Anti-Subsidy Business Department at Long An Guangzhou, Senior Researcher at the Long An Bay Area ASEAN Legal Research Center, a leading foreign-related lawyer in Guangzhou, and an emerging talent in foreign-related law in Guangdong Province. She is also one of the first lawyers selected for the "Lingyun Plan" for Outstanding Young Lawyers in Guangzhou. Attorney Ou has profound legal expertise in foreign-related fields. She has provided legal services involving overseas investment, export control and sanctions, anti-dumping, countervailing, international arbitration, foreign-related litigation, and foreign-related standing legal counsel for multiple large enterprises, especially automotive companies, earning consistent praise from clients. Attorney Ou has fully participated as lead counsel in multiple overseas investment projects for well-known manufacturing enterprises, covering countries and regions including Thailand, Mexico, Russia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. She has also served as lead counsel providing legal services for automobile export business for a well-known automotive company in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and other ASEAN countries. Additionally, Attorney Ou excels in foreign-related litigation and international arbitration, serving as lead counsel in multiple foreign-related litigation cases and international arbitrations, actively safeguarding clients' legitimate rights and achieving ideal results. To date, Attorney Ou has established close cooperative relationships with many well-known law firms and outbound institutions worldwide, covering Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, South Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and North America, involving over 30 countries or regions. Client industries include but are not limited to intelligent connected vehicles, new energy, AI, drones, traditional manufacturing, and biomedical industries.

黄恩霖
HUANG Enlin Senior Partner

Huang Enlin is a Senior Partner at Long An (Shenzhen) Law Firm, Director of the Financial Leasing and Supply Chain Finance Professional Committee, and Vice Director of the Energy and Natural Resources Professional Committee. He also serves as an entrepreneur mentor at the MBA Education Center of Shantou University, a specially appointed lecturer in the Law Department of Shanghai Shanda University, a member of the Legal Professional Committee and Risk Control Professional Committee of the Guangdong Financial Leasing Association, a mediator at the Guangdong Financial Leasing Industry Diversified Dispute Resolution Center, a mediator at the China International Mediation and Arbitration Institute (CIMAI), a registered expert (first batch) of the Shandong Financial Leasing Industry Association, a mentor for high-tech enterprise cultivation in Guangzhou, and a specially appointed researcher at the Zhejiang University Financial Leasing Research Center. Attorney Huang and his team primarily provide legal services in financial commercial dispute resolution, capital markets, corporate compliance, bankruptcy and restructuring, and new energy project development and transactions.