Share of solar PV modules imports in the U.S. 2023, by country

Most solar installations in the United States require the use of imported panels, largely imported from Southeast Asia. Over 34 percent of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules imported into the U.S. between January and November 2023 came from Vietnam. 

Solar import tariffs

In 2012, the Obama administration implemented duties on solar equipment imported from China to counteract the competitive edge held by foreign companies. These levies were then expanded in 2015, leading to the gradual phase-out of Chinese solar imports. Since then, the U.S. solar market has heavily relied on equipment assembled in SE Asia. However, in April 2022, the U.S. Commerce Department launched an import-tariff-circumvention investigation, under the suspicion PV modules imported from these countries contained components made in China. In August 2023, the Commerce Department published its final conclusion, stating that a number of the investigated companies were violating U.S. laws. Accordingly, new steep duties are scheduled to be implemented on such companies in June 2024. 

How is the solar market now?

The price of solar PV modules in the United States has seen an overall decline since 2015, despite some fluctuations. During the same period, the number of solar energy-related jobs in the North American country has been on a mostly upward trend, reaching a record high of nearly 264,000 jobs in 2022. Altogether, the U.S. solar energy industry continues to prosper in spite of the import tariffs placed on this renewable energy source.