Planning on installing solar panels on your RV? You may want to do it now—and not put it off. The U.S. Commerce Department says it will soon be tacking huge tariffs on solar panel imports from several Southeast Asian countries. While the highest tariff rate could be more than 3,500%, other producers will still see big hits in the form of solar panel tariffs.
Finger points to China in solar panel tariffs
What’s behind the big hammer of tariffs? During the Biden administration, some U.S. solar panel manufacturers asked for protection against foreign imports. It seems that China, in response to earlier solar panel tariffs, began to subsidize solar panel manufacturing by Chinese-owned firms in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The U.S. manufacturers claimed that the foreign operations were unfairly dumping their panels on the U.S. market.
The Commerce Department started an investigation into the matter. Because some Cambodian exporters failed to “cooperate” in the investigation, the agency now says it’s considering hitting Cambodian solar imports with a whopping 3,521% tariff. On the low end of the scale, Jinko Solar, a Chinese-owned Malaysian firm, will face the low tariff level of 41%. But over in Thailand, Trina Solar, another Chinese-rooted producer, will get hit with 375% tariffs.
U.S. manufacturers claim victory—but not so fast
U.S. solar producers consider it good news. In a story carried by BBC News, the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee—the trade group that called out for the Commerce investigation—lauded the decision. “This is a decisive victory for American manufacturing and confirms what we’ve long known: that Chinese-headquartered solar companies have been cheating the system,” said Tim Brightbill, lead counsel to the Alliance. This, as reported by the BBC.
While U.S. manufacturers are crowing about the decision, it could still have a backfire effect. Another trade group, the Solar Energy Industries Association, points out that U.S. solar manufacturers import the actual solar cells that are then “built into” panels produced stateside. While the increased tariffs will jack up the cost of panels imported into the U.S., it will also pump up the price of the cells themselves.
In the end, solar panel consumers—including RVers looking to power up their rig’s self-sufficiency—will likely see a major hit in the wallet. Buy now—or pay more later.
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RVT1206b
Good report Russ and Tina. A little bit catastrophic in the “Hook” or the initial tone but once it is read thru thoroughly and dissected it tells a good story of the cheating and exactly which country(s) will be locked out of the US solar market place and why, thru high tarrifs.
I was happy to read that American Solar Industry Leaders are embracing, for the most part, the tarrifs and kudos to both of you for including that sentiment in your story.
Happy trails ✌️ 😎
I agree with your thoughts and comments on this report Cancel..thanks Russ and Tina.
Thank you for the warning, Russ and Tina! We just do not and currently do not expect to boondock more than rarely. So, as much as the self-sufficiency that solar panels can provide is attractive, can’t justify the cost. Thanks again for monitoring the situation. Have a great day and safe travels!
The problem is when American companies get more into manufacturing products. The more expensive the products will be. Look at the price of lithium batteries and solar panels manufactured in America now and compare them to those manufactured overseas. It’s difficult to afford American products. Then the RV manufacturers install 12vdc fridges to save themself money. Which makes it necessary to install around 600 watts of solar to keep up. Computation is best.
The choices are pretty limited.
Keep Americans employed with domestic sourced goods but pay more for everything or ship jobs offshore, earn less and pray for no disruption in cheaply sourced goods.
The problem isn’t tariffs, it’s the abysmal cost of government.
Citizens must pay for government whether it comes directly from taxes, indirectly through tariffs or a mixture of both in fees but the cost of government is on us; The U.S. citizen consumer.
For any serious discussion let alone reform to take place, we need to stop talking about the color of ink on the invoice and talk about why we’re okay with spending what the invoice represents. It’s our inescapable debt folks.
Should we hoard solar panels like toilet paper? Settle down, everybody. Just because journalists tell you the sky is falling doesn’t mean it actually is. This is a great example of how irresponsible journalism can instil consumer panic with what “might happen”. It doesn’t take much research to understand that tariffs are often worked around, side stepped, and historically difficult to enforce. Current consumer insecurity is not driven by facts as much as by journalistic clickbait telling them they should be insecure.
So you’re sayin a $2,500.00 solar panel won’t be 3,500% more expensive, or $90,000.00, for my RV. 2 new solar panels for my RV won’t be $180,000.00. 😂🤣😂🤣
What solar panels are you buying for 2500?
Pre-DOGE Govt contract price JP.
Regardless JP, will $500 panels now be $18,000? Relax, it was just a math comment.
The catastrophic hook was the 3500% in the article. My comment was simply doing simple math.
Exactly! I get so sick of these articles that are meant to induce fear and panic with words like “considering” and “could be.” I’m going to skip these two “journalists” columns from now on. But, if this ends up being true, I think I’ll sell my solar panels I paid $200 for that will now be worth $7,000 for the bargain price of $4,000 and use my generator LOL!
A couple of days ago I was calculating the distance between my home and the nearest Costco in Canada. Looks like I’ll be buying any solar panels I need up there too.
About a decade or more ago (during the Obama Administration), NY State gave the California Solar Panel Company, “Solar City,” a whopping $750 million to subsidize the building of a huge solar panel factory in Buffalo, NY. SolarCity went bankrupt before the factory was finished. Tesla bought the plant in partnership with Panasonic. Tens of millions of dollars of machinery in storage were scrapped as obsolete. Later, Panasonic dropped out of the factory partnership, and I honestly don’t know what Tesla builds at the factory. Solar is another “Green Idea” pushed on to the American public, just like electric vehicles that aren’t ready for prime time, pushed by Biden & Obama.