South-east Asia’s place in the sun just got dimmer

Highly punitive US tariffs threaten to derail the region’s solar export streak – but for many foreign manufacturers here, the writing is already on the wall

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Goh Ruoxue

Published Tue, Apr 22, 2025 · 10:23 PM

A Buddhist monk and novices cleaning solar panels at a temple in Thailand. Industry players note that displaced demand from the US could expand the domestic use of solar products and scale up intra-Asean sales. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

[HO CHI MINH CITY, KUALA LUMPUR] Washington has fired another shot in the clean energy trade war with South-east Asia in the crosshairs – a move that could dim the region’s standing in the global solar supply chain.

The verdict announced on Monday (Apr 21) followed a year-long investigation launched under former US president Joe Biden’s administration, after American solar manufacturers raised concerns that Chinese companies were bypassing existing tariffs by shifting production to South-east Asia.

Following final affirmative determinations, the issuance of orders is set to take place in June. These orders usually have no fixed expiration dates but are subject to mandatory five-year reviews, said Jaehwan Lim, partner at VSE Lawyers.

Asean Business Renewable energy Solar energy Trump tariffs US tariffs