The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed anti-dumping duties at rates ranging from 2.02% to 376.85% and countervailing duties at rates ranging from 1.44% to 168.81% on aluminum extrusions imported from 14 countries, including India.

The aluminum extrusions are used in trackers and mounting structures for solar panels.

These trade duties will not affect aluminum framing on imported solar modules.

The department determined that 14 countries—China, India, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam—have dumped subsidized aluminum extrusions into the U.S., violating international trade rules.

In the Commerce Department’s final affirmative determination, aluminum extrusions from 10 Indian companies will attract a dumping rate of 39.05% and 19.53% on other companies.

In 2022, 16,124.8 metric tons of aluminum extrusions valued at $108.08 million were imported from India, a 76% increase from 9,132.6 metric tons ($45.22 million) imported in 2021.

The anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases were filed on behalf of the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition, a coalition of 14 aluminum extruders.

The merchandise subject to this investigation is aluminum extrusions, regardless of form, finishing, or fabrication, whether assembled with other parts or unassembled, coated, painted, anodized, or thermally improved.

Products that meet the definition of subject merchandise include , but are not limited to, solar panel racking rails and framing, solar tracker assemblies with gears, and electric vehicle battery trays.

In May 2024, the Department of Commerce announced a preliminary determination that aluminum extrusions from the 14 countries were being sold in the U.S. at unfairly low prices, allowing them to be subject to anti-dumping duties. The investigation covered the period between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.

The final duty liability will be determined through the Commerce Department’s administrative review process. These duties may increase later, with U.S. importers retroactively owing additional amounts.

Duties are assessed on the merchandise’s importer of record. Duty evasion, absorption, and circumvention are illegal and closely monitored by Customs in conjunction with the Commerce Department, and severe penalties may apply.

Robert DeFrancesco, trade counsel to the petitioners and a partner in the International Trade Practice at Wiley Rein, said, “The U.S. industry looks forward to relief from these unfairly traded imports when the U.S. International Trade Commission issues its final determination in November 2024.”

India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies initiated an anti-dumping investigation into the imports of solar cells from China.

In 2023, India announced an anti-dumping investigation into aluminum solar module frames imported from China.