US trade officials on Monday said they will launch an investigation into whether to impose tariffs on solar energy equipment from four Southeast Asian nations, a blow to project developers that rely on cheap imports to keep their costs down.
The decision is a victory for Californian solar manufacturer Auxin Solar, which requested the probe. Its petition is the latest in a string of efforts by US solar producers to stem the flow of cheap Asian panels that dominate the market.
San Jose-based Auxin earlier this year requested an investigation by the department, arguing that Chinese manufacturers shifted production to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to avoid paying US duties on Chinese-made solar goods.
In a memo on a Commerce Department web site, officials said Auxin had provided information indicating that solar companies operating in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and…
