Latest news with #HanwhaQcells
News18
12-08-2025
- Business
- News18
South Korea urges US to grant leniency to imported polysilicon probe
Seoul [South Korea], August 12 (ANI): South Korea has urged the United States to grant leniency to its companies in an ongoing probe into imported polysilicon, warning that broad restrictions could hurt both nations' clean energy and semiconductor industries, The Korean Herald to a filing published by the US Bureau of Industry and Security, Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy asked Washington to apply 'flexible consideration" for Korean firms as the US reviews whether low-priced polysilicon imports threaten its domestic industry under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The investigation, launched on July 1, is examining the potential national security risks of foreign-made polysilicon, a crucial material for solar panels and semiconductors.'Korea is a net importer of high-quality polysilicon from the United States. At the same time, Korea and its companies have established a secure supply chain for polysilicon to US importers and US companies," the ministry said in its submission. 'If import restrictions on polysilicon are introduced, we respectfully request that special consideration be given to allow for flexible application to Korean companies."Global polysilicon prices have plummeted in recent years, largely due to China's dominance in the sector. Backed by state support, China now produces nearly 80 per cent of the world's supply, with prices around USD 5 per kilogram, far below the USD 18 to USD 25 range for equivalent non-Chinese products, according to IBK Securities. US officials have said such pricing pressures are forcing local plants to shut warned that limiting imports could undermine Washington's own push to boost domestic manufacturing of solar panels and chips. It cited examples of Korean firms such as Hanwha Qcells and OCI Holdings that are deeply involved in US renewable energy projects. 'Korean-invested companies that are helping to grow US renewable energy and semiconductor manufacturing are importers of polysilicon, as well as consumers of US-produced polysilicon," the ministry noted. 'Broadly applied tariffs or other import restrictions… risk disrupting supply chains that are important to both economic and national security."Hanwha Qcells and OCI Holdings stressed in their separate statements that their supply chains avoid low-cost Chinese polysilicon. Hanwha Qcells mainly sources from OCI's Malaysian facilities, while OCI's US subsidiary, Mission Solar Energy, uses Malaysian polysilicon to manufacture modules in the United sources have cautioned that overly broad restrictions could backfire. 'US polysilicon production is currently limited, while US demand for power is surging," one source said. 'If broad import restrictions are implemented in this environment, even companies from allied nations that are building supply chains and investing in US manufacturing could face indirect damage." (ANI)
Korea Herald
11-08-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korea seeks US leniency in polysilicon import probe
South Korea has formally asked the United States to grant favorable consideration to Korean companies as Washington weighs potential restrictions on imported polysilicon, a key material used in solar panels and semiconductors. According to a document posted Friday by the US Bureau of Industry and Security, Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy urged the US to adopt a flexible approach toward Korean firms during its ongoing investigation into the impact of low-priced imports on the US polysilicon industry. 'Korea is a net importer of high-quality polysilicon from the United States. At the same time, Korea and its companies have established a secure supply chain for polysilicon to US importers and US companies,' the ministry wrote. 'If import restrictions on polysilicon are introduced, we respectfully request that special consideration be given to allow for flexible application to Korean companies.' The investigation, launched July 1 under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962, examines national security concerns related to imported goods. US officials have warned that low-cost polysilicon imports are forcing domestic plants to shut down. Global polysilicon prices have declined in recent years as China — which now accounts for nearly 80 percent of global supply — has flooded the market with state-backed, low-priced products. IBK Securities estimates Chinese polysilicon prices at around $5 per kilogram, compared with $18 to $25 per kilogram for equivalent non-Chinese products. In its submission, Korea warned that restricting polysilicon imports could undermine US efforts to boost domestic production of solar panels and semiconductors. It cited Korean companies, including Hanwha Qcells and OCI Holdings, that are involved in US solar projects. 'Korean-invested companies that are helping to grow US renewable energy and semiconductor manufacturing are importers of polysilicon, as well as consumers of US-produced polysilicon,' the ministry said. 'Broadly applied tariffs or other import restrictions on polysilicon risk disrupting supply chains that are important to both economic and national security.' Hanwha Qcells and OCI Holdings also filed separate statements to the bureau, stressing that their supply chains do not use low-cost Chinese polysilicon. Currently, Hanwha Qcells mainly sources polysilicon from OCI's Malaysian production facilities. Additionally, OCI's US subsidiary, Mission Solar Energy, manufactures solar modules in the US using polysilicon supplied from the Malaysian plant. Industry officials warned that sweeping restrictions could harm even allied nations' companies operating in the US. 'US polysilicon production is currently limited, while US demand for power is surging,' one industry source said. 'If broad import restrictions are implemented in this environment, even companies from allied nations that are building supply chains and investing in US manufacturing could face indirect damage.'
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
US targets Malaysia, neighbours as cheap solar panels spark tariff battle
WASHINGTON, May 21 — The US International Trade Commission determined on Tuesday that domestic solar panel makers were materially harmed or threatened by a flood of cheap imports from four Southeast Asian nations, bringing the United States a step closer to imposing stiff duties on those goods. The 'yes' vote by the three-member ITC means the Commerce Department will issue orders to enforce countervailing and anti-dumping tariffs on solar products imported from Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam that the agency finalized last month. The vote resolves a year-old trade case in which American manufacturers accused Chinese companies of flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods from factories in Southeast Asia. Since that time, President Donald Trump has pursued a broad strategy to impose tariffs on imported products to protect manufacturers of US-made goods. The Commerce Department cannot impose tariffs unless the ITC finds that the domestic industry was harmed or threatened by overseas rivals receiving unfair subsidies and dumping products in the US market. The outcome of the vote was posted in a brief notice on the ITC's web site. It was not immediately clear how each commissioner voted. The trade case was brought last year by Korea's Hanwha Qcells, Arizona-based First Solar Inc and several smaller producers seeking to protect billions of dollars in investments in US solar manufacturing. '(Tuesday's) vote leaves no doubt: these Chinese-headquartered companies have been violating trade laws by overwhelming the US market with unfairly cheap, dumped and subsidized solar panels – and they continue to do so from third-party markets around the world, undermining US industrial strategy and stunting new investment,' Tim Brightbill, the lead attorney for the petitioning group, the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, said in a statement. 'This cannot stand. Our growing American industry deserves — and now will have — the chance to compete fairly,' Brightbill said. The vast majority of panels installed in the United States are imported from Asia. In 2022, former President Joe Biden's signature climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act, created a tax credit for clean energy manufacturing, and more than 100 solar factories have been announced or expanded since then, according to the American Clean Power Association trade group. A top US solar trade group, the Solar Energy Industries Association, said new tariffs would actually harm domestic producers by increasing costs for panel buyers. '(Tuesday's) decision by the US International Trade Commission is concerning for American solar manufacturers and the broader US solar industry,' SEIA President Abigail Ross Hopper said in a statement. 'The USITC's final affirmative injury determination adds an additional layer of tariffs that will raise costs for the solar products American companies need to build projects and grow domestic manufacturing.' — Reuters
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
US clears way for stiff tariffs on Southeast Asian solar imports
The US International Trade Commission determined on Tuesday that domestic solar panel makers were materially harmed or threatened by a flood of cheap imports from four Southeast Asian nations, bringing the United States a step closer to imposing stiff duties on those goods. The 'yes' vote by the three-member ITC means the US Commerce Department will issue orders to enforce countervailing and anti-dumping tariffs on solar products imported from Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam that the agency finalised last month. The vote resolves a year-old trade case in which American manufacturers accused Chinese companies of flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods from factories in Southeast Asia. Since that time, US President Donald Trump has pursued a broad strategy to impose tariffs on imported products to protect manufacturers of US-made goods. The US Commerce Department cannot impose tariffs unless the ITC finds that the domestic industry was harmed or threatened by overseas rivals receiving unfair subsidies and dumping products in the US market. The outcome of the vote was posted in a brief notice on the ITC's website. It was not immediately clear how each commissioner voted. 01:13 Qatar opens first solar power plant built with Chinese equipment and technology Qatar opens first solar power plant built with Chinese equipment and technology The trade case was brought last year by Korea's Hanwha Qcells, Arizona-based First Solar Inc and several smaller producers seeking to protect billions of dollars in investments in US solar manufacturing.
CNA
20-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
US trade panel's vote paves way for stiff tariffs on many solar imports
The U.S. International Trade Commission determined on Tuesday that domestic solar panel makers were materially harmed or threatened by a flood of cheap imports from four Southeast Asian nations, bringing the United States a step closer to imposing stiff duties on those goods. The "yes" vote by the three-member ITC means the Commerce Department will issue orders to enforce countervailing and anti-dumping tariffs on solar products imported from Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam that the agency finalized last month. The vote resolves a year-old trade case in which American manufacturers accused Chinese companies of flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods from factories in Southeast Asia. Since that time, President Donald Trump has pursued a broad strategy to impose tariffs on imported products to protect manufacturers of U.S.-made goods. The Commerce Department cannot impose tariffs unless the ITC finds that the domestic industry was harmed or threatened by overseas rivals receiving unfair subsidies and dumping products in the U.S. market. The outcome of the vote was posted in a brief notice on the ITC's web site. It was not immediately clear how each commissioner voted. The trade case was brought last year by Korea's Hanwha Qcells, Arizona-based First Solar Inc and several smaller producers seeking to protect billions of dollars in investments in U.S. solar manufacturing. "(Tuesday's) vote leaves no doubt: these Chinese-headquartered companies have been violating trade laws by overwhelming the U.S. market with unfairly cheap, dumped and subsidized solar panels - and they continue to do so from third-party markets around the world, undermining U.S. industrial strategy and stunting new investment," Tim Brightbill, the lead attorney for the petitioning group, the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, said in a statement. "This cannot stand. Our growing American industry deserves - and now will have - the chance to compete fairly," Brightbill said. The vast majority of panels installed in the United States are imported from Asia. In 2022, former President Joe Biden's signature climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act, created a tax credit for clean energy manufacturing, and more than 100 solar factories have been announced or expanded since then, according to the American Clean Power Association trade group. A top U.S. solar trade group, the Solar Energy Industries Association, said new tariffs would actually harm domestic producers by increasing costs for panel buyers. "(Tuesday's) decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission is concerning for American solar manufacturers and the broader U.S. solar industry," SEIA President Abigail Ross Hopper said in a statement. "The USITC's final affirmative injury determination adds an additional layer of tariffs that will raise costs for the solar products American companies need to build projects and grow domestic manufacturing."
