According to trade experts, the duration of CVD probes can last from a few months to a couple of years.
Also read: Why should anyone do their job?The US International Trade Commission’s (USITC) website says that statutorily, a CVD investigation is designed to conclude in approximately 205 days (about 7 months) from petition filing to the ITC’s final determination and issuance of the order (if both final decisions are affirmative).
It says that the period is shorter than antidumping (AD) investigations (roughly 280 days) because DOC’s preliminary subsidy determination is faster.
Last month, the US announced a levy of countervailing duties (CVD) of 125.87% on solar cells and panels imported from companies in India, having determined that the Asian country unfairly subsidised manufacturing.
India exported 2.29 GW of solar cells/modules worth $793 million to the US in 2024. In its preliminary findings made public on 24th February, the US also announced CVD on import of solar cells and panels to the tune of 104.38% from Indonesia, and 80.67% from Laos.Responding to the development, government sources had then told CNBC-TV18 that the US’ move is a part of a usual quasi-judicial process as CVD Investigations are undertaken by all countries, including India.
In August 2025, government sources had indicated that the anti-dumping probe by the US against Indian exports of solar modules “lacked merit”, with the United States not having distinguished between exports from bona fide Indian manufacturers and from countries which act as trans-shipment hubs for under-priced exports aimed at dumping.
The Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade and American module manufacturers First Solar, Mission Solar Energy, and Qcells had filed anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) petitions before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US Department of Commerce, alleging dumping of solar modules by India, Indonesia and Laos in the American market.
Earlier, the US had levied anti-dumping duty on solar exports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
While an anti-dumping probe against solar cells and panels imported from the three countries will continue, the interested parties will get time to comment on the preliminary findings before a final determination is arrived at by the US.
For both AD and CVD investigations, American law mandates the US Department of Commerce to verify information submitted by the foreign manufacturers and the government, which is subject to the investigation, after a preliminary determination is issued.
The final determination includes validation of data submitted by foreign manufacturers and governments, followed by a report with a summary of the findings after due verification.
