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Falling panel prices lead to global solar boom, except for the US

(arstechnica.com)
249 points Jtsummers | 3 comments | 30 Oct 25 16:32 UTC | HN request time: 0.628s | source
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jameslk ◴[30 Oct 25 17:08 UTC] No.45762342[source]▶
80% of the supply chain for solar is based in China[0]. As long as this is the case, it is unlikely there will be as much demand in the US for it due to new Cold War and bipartisan efforts to tariff solar panels from China

The article seems to leave this important detail out, despite talking a lot about China

0. https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv-global-supply-chains/ex...

EDIT: it looks like the article does mention it, I just missed it:

> The huge surfeit of production capacity in China, which produced about eight out of 10 of the world’s solar modules in 2024

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philipkglass ◴[30 Oct 25 17:24 UTC] No.45762566[source]▶
The more depressing problem is that the US is raising trade barriers for solar equipment made outside of China nearly as fast. I think that the current administration just dislikes solar power, and only a part of that animosity is due to its tough-on-China stance.

"South Korea files WTO complaint over US solar tariffs"

https://www.pv-tech.org/south-korea-challenging-us-solar-tar...

"US DOC issues steep AD/CVD tariffs on Southeast Asian solar cells"

https://www.pv-tech.org/us-doc-issues-ad-cvd-tariffs-on-sout...

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs against solar cell imports from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia.

"A Casualty of Trump’s Tariffs: India’s Nascent Solar Industry"

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/climate/india-solar-panel...

"Solar products from Mexico and Canada slapped with tariffs for first time"

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2025/02/solar-products...

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1. jameslk ◴[30 Oct 25 17:36 UTC] No.45762723[source]▶
I’d be curious how much of the goal of the tariffs is for solar actually produced in those countries vs just slightly modified goods from China. That’s one reason tariffs don’t work when they aren’t applied universally

I don’t doubt that another benefit is the current admin just simply doesn’t like solar of course

replies(1): >>45763028 #
2. philipkglass ◴[30 Oct 25 18:01 UTC] No.45763028[source]▶
I know that at least Malaysia, Mexico, and South Korea had genuinely independent solar manufacturing that was not just repackaging Chinese components. In reading the solar industry trade press, I haven't seen indications that the new tariffs are targeted to fight "leakage" of Chinese products via intermediary countries. They seem aimed at keeping import prices elevated across the board.
replies(1): >>45763871 #
3. alephnerd ◴[30 Oct 25 18:58 UTC] No.45763871[source]▶
In India's case it appears to be an attempt to strongarm a trade deal - Indian energy firms that have invested heavily in the solar and renewables manufacturing chain like Reliance Group and Adani Group are diversified energy companies that are also competing against American ONG majors like Exxon and Chevron.

Heck, the additonal 25% tariff on India for Russian oil imports only came up after Exxon started lobbying to re-enter the Russian market [0], but the Russians sold Exxon's Russian assets to India's ONGC [1].

[0] - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-18/exxon-say...

[1] - https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/113881/