The US government has imposed tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia.

Miti said it was directly involved, on behalf of the Malaysian government, in the US countervailing and anti-dumping investigation into the matter.

“Miti is committed to defending Malaysia’s solar industry against US trade remedy actions by refuting unfounded allegations and providing views and feedback based on stakeholder input,” the ministry said in an oral reply posted on the Parliament website last night.

It was responding to a question from Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) on Miti’s stance on the tariffs and its readiness to address their impact on the country’s green energy sector.

Miti said it had also emphasised to the US government that Malaysia’s investment incentive programmes comply with the World Trade Organization Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

It said Malaysia’s solar industry had not benefited from the alleged programmes said to have harmed the US solar sector.

“This is to ensure that the cooperative relationship among Asean solar panel manufacturers strengthens the supply chain and collectively addresses these challenges.

“Encouraging investment in research and development related to green technology will also position Malaysia as a manufacturer of high quality solar panels and green technology equipment, supporting its goal of becoming a regional green technology hub,” it said.