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The US is reportedly drafting rules that could ban new imports of Chinese solar inverters on cybersecurity grounds
The proposal follows the EU's move to exclude Chinese-made inverters from publicly funded energy projects
If implemented, the restrictions could reshape inverter supply chains and support domestic manufacturing in the US, depending on the scope of the final rule
Following the European Union's (EU) move to restrict Chinese-made inverters in publicly funded energy projects, the US may also ban imports of Chinese solar inverters, with a draft rule expected as early as this year, according to a Reuters report.
The draft measure, being prepared by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), would apply to new foreign inverter models used to connect solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to the grid, according to the report. Republican Senator Tom Cotton has welcomed the proposed ban.
The reported proposal follows a European Commission decision to exclude Chinese-made inverters from publicly funded energy projects. Both measures are driven by cybersecurity concerns over critical energy infrastructure (see Solar Trade In Focus As China & EU Weigh New Curbs).
Chinese companies have a dominant position in the global solar inverter market. According to Wood Mackenzie, global PV inverter shipments increased by 10% year-on-year in 2025 to 589 GW AC. China's Huawei and Sungrow together accounted for 55% of global shipments, while 9 of the top 10 inverter suppliers were headquartered in China (see China Leads 589 GW AC Global PV Inverter Shipments In 2024).
The US has already used several regulatory measures to limit the use of Chinese solar products, including import tariffs, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), and Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) provisions. These policies have encouraged investment in domestic solar PV manufacturing.
If implemented, a ban on Chinese inverters could encourage domestic inverter manufacturing in the US and prompt companies to diversify inverter supply chains. However, the overall impact would depend on the scope of the restrictions and the industry's ability to expand local production.
