MITI To Continue Engaging With US Authorities On Solar Export Tariff Hikes

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) will help Malaysian solar manufacturers and related companies affected by the US tariff hike on solar exports to get more information on the move by Washington.

Its minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, said the higher tariff has affected many production lines of these solar companies not only in Malaysia but also manufacturers in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

"So we are now helping the companies by getting more information and then engaging the United States (US) Department of Commerce to see how we can support these companies," he told reporters after a briefing on Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN (Economic Pillar) at the ministry here, today.

Previously, it was reported that the US Department of Commerce increased duties on solar equipment exported by Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, following its initial findings of unfair government subsidies used to produce solar equipment sold by companies in these four countries.

Washington plans to increase US import tariffs on Chinese solar cells and panels from 25 per cent to 50 per cent among a host of other products, over claims alleging unfair Chinese business practices.

-- BERNAMA