China vs United States: Solar Import Comparison 2026
Compare every aspect of importing solar panels to China and United States β tariffs, certifications, logistics, and market dynamics side by side.
Both China and United States offer distinct import dynamics. Review the metrics below to pick the right sourcing strategy for your project.
| Metric | π China Asia | π United States North America |
|---|---|---|
| Import Duty | N/A (world's largest solar manufacturing base) | 0% (Section 201 safeguard expired Feb 2026) |
| Anti-Dumping | N/A | AD/CVD from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia (2024 petition), 25% Section 301 on China-origin cells |
| VAT / Sales Tax | 13% VAT (rebate on export: 13% for most solar products) | Sales tax varies by state (0-9%) |
| CBAM Applicable | β No | β No |
| Main Ports | Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao | Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Houston, Savannah, New York/Newark |
| Typical Lead Time | Domestic: 5-10 days; Export: 2-7 days to port | 18-28 days sea freight from Shanghai to LA/Long Beach |
| Preferred Incoterms | FOB Shanghai/Ningbo, EXW factory, CIF anywhere | CIF Long Beach, DDP |
| Top Brands | JinkoSolar, LONGi, Trina Solar, JA Solar, Canadian Solar | First Solar (local), JinkoSolar US, Qcells (Georgia plant), LONGi, Canadian Solar |
| Popular Wattage | 580-640W bifacial TOPCon (2026 standard), 700-730W (high-power utility) | 550-600W bifacial for utility, 400-440W mono for residential |
| Q1 2026 Landed Price | FOB Shanghai TOPCon 580W: ~$0.082-0.092/W (Q1 2026). Spot market volatility high β lock with TT 30% deposit. | Landed CIF LA utility-scale TOPCon 610W: ~$0.15-0.18/W (Q1 2026). UFLPA compliance documentation mandatory. |
Regulatory Notes
π China
Home to 80%+ of global module supply. Export VAT rebate of 13% factored into FOB. Shanghai/Ningbo are biggest ports. Customs clearance varies by province. New "dual-side tape" packaging standard reduces shipping damage.
π United States
UFLPA (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act) blocks all Xinjiang-sourced materials β requires complete polysilicon traceability. IRA domestic content bonus (10%) available for US-made cells+modules. AD/CVD circumvention investigation on SE Asia imports.
JUST SOLAR β China Delivery
JUST SOLAR is based in Shanghai β visit our factories, audit samples, or consolidate LCL shipments to any port.
JUST SOLAR β United States Delivery
JUST SOLAR provides full UFLPA polysilicon traceability and ships weekly to Long Beach with customs pre-clearance support.
π Sourcing to both markets?
JUST SOLAR GROUP delivers to 40+ countries worldwide with localized compliance documentation and flexible payment terms.