Solar panels on a tidal flat in Yancheng city, Jiangsu province, China. Donald Trump’s tariffs plan may see levies introduced on nearly all US imports, particularly from China.Solar panels on a tidal flat in Yancheng city, Jiangsu province, China. Donald Trump’s tariffs plan may see levies introduced on nearly all US imports, particularly from China., some manufacturers may be looking to those who already have a playbook on dealing with aggressive US levies, such as China’s solar companies.
This has spurred some Chinese companies to rapidly shift and expand their supply chains overseas in what US government agencies allege is China’s major PV technology companies have been opening factories in south-east Asia since at least 2016. That year, the world’s third-largest solar manufacturer, Longi, expanded to Malaysia with its first overseas production base, and the launch of a Thai subsidiary. It also has a facility in Vietnam, and this year began construction of another Malaysian project and a joint-venture factory in the US.
Various US tariffs and antidumping duties have since been levied on the industry in the region at either country or company level, or in some cases both, and eyes are on the movements of Chinese industries., a business intelligence company. As soon as import duties are targeted at one country, companies will up sticks and move to another.