KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has raised objections to the United States' blanket nine per cent tariff on solar cell imports from the country, asserting that companies with at least 40 per cent local content should be exempted from the tariffs.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said they have notified the relevant authorities that companies which meet the relevant local content threshold should not face any tariff imposition.
"I think that has already (been imposed) on other Asean countries or other nations, where they have put on to companies that they feel have been subsidised by other countries, in this case, China.
"For Malaysia, we have already stated our position that if companies based in Malaysia show at least 40 per cent local content, then they should not be subjected to these tariffs," he told reporters after the launch of Leapmotor.
On Oct 1, the US imposed a general duty of 9.13 per cent on solar cell imports from Malaysia, and singled out five companies for duties ranging between 3.4 per cent and 123.94 per cent.
In its preliminary decision on investigations into crystalline photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, announced on Oct 1, 2024, the US Department of Commerce imposed a duty of 3.47 per cent on JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd from China, 14.72 per cent on Hanwha Q CELLS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and 123.94 per cent on Baojia New Energy, Pax Union Resources Sdn Bhd, and SunMax Energy Sdn Bhd.