U.S. to Probe Whether China Solar Firms Are Evading Tariffs (4)

The U.S. is launching an investigation into whether Chinese solar-equipment manufacturers are evading tariffs by sending components to other Asian nations for assembly before exporting the finished products.

A decision by the U.S. Commerce Department to open a probe requested by Auxin Solar Inc., a small California panel maker, marks the first formal step of an investigation that could span a year and culminate in expanded duties on the imports.

The inquiry threatens to have the most impact on the U.S. solar sector, which relies on Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia for about 80% of module supply, rather than ...