Three US solar panel manufacturers have formally requested that US trade authorities launch an investigation into imports of solar cells from South Korea.
The petitioners allege that producers in Seoul, notably Hanwha's Qcells division, are utilizing the country as a conduit to bypass longstanding tariffs imposed on Chinese solar products.
The move signals an intensification of trade enforcement efforts within the US solar supply chain.
By targeting South Korean imports, domestic manufacturers are seeking to close what they describe as a loophole that allows Chinese-origin components to enter the US market under different tariff classifications.
This development adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China in the renewable energy sector.
The petition comes against a backdrop of shifting dynamics in the global solar industry.