SolarWorld remains at centre as ongoing trade dispute impacts Taiwan
SolarWorld has commended the U.S. Department of Commerce's determination to impose preliminary anti-dumping import duties averaging about 42 percent on crystalline silicon solar panels made by the state-controlled Chinese solar industry from solar cells fabricated in third countries using Chinese inputs and about 36 percent on solar cells made in Taiwan.
Commerce set preliminary rates of 26.33 percent and 58.87 percent on solar panels assembled in China (from third-country cells made from Chinese inputs) by mandatory respondents Trina Solar and ReneSola, respectively. The department also imposed preliminary anti-dumping duties rates of 27.59 percent and 44.18 percent on cells manufactured in Taiwan by Gintech Energy Corp. and Motech Industries Inc., respectively, whether or not assembled into solar panels in Taiwan or another country. Most other producers in China and Taiwan will receive import duty rates averaging the rates for the two producers in their respective countries.
Combined with preliminary anti-dumping duty rates issued last month, most companies will pay combined duties of about 47 percent. Duties go into effect immediately. They cover imports left unaddressed in an earlier set of trade cases concluded in 2012. A Commerce fact sheet restates the scope of imports underlying the investigation to date.
"We and our workers are gratified to hear that the U.S. government once again has moved to block foreign government interference in our economy and clear the way for the domestic production industry to be able to compete on a level playing field," said Mukesh Dulani, president of SolarWorld Industries America Inc., the largest domestic solar producer for nearly 40 years. "We should not have to compete with dumped imports or the Chinese government. Today's actions should help the U.S. solar manufacturing industry to expand and innovate."
The response was just as quick from the Chinese side andmany expressed disappointment in the decision.
"We are deeply disappointed by the DOC's decision, especially in context of the overwhelming damaging impact on the U.S. solar industry," said Mr. Koerner, General Manager of Canadian Solar Inc. Americas division.
"This preliminary AD announcement will definitely jeopardize what we have worked so hard for and have achieved in the last few years in the U.S. market: solar industry job creation and affordable clean energy - from small residential installations to large utility scale power plants. While we applaud the government's vocal dedication to sustainable development and job creation via fostering the solar market; the pattern of protectionism directly contradicts these commitments. This decision in favour of one non-competitive PV manufacturer will cost tens and thousands of jobs across the entire U.S. solar industry, which currently employs more than 140,000 local workers," added Mr. Koerner.
In the USA not all are as sure as SolarWorld of the outcome. In response to the announcement, Jigar Shah , president of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) said, "The determination is another unnecessary obstacle for the U.S. solar industry that will hinder the deployment of clean energy by raising the prices of solar products. Due to these tariffs, previously viable projects will go unbuilt, American workers will go unhired and consumers that could have saved money through solar energy may not be able to benefit.
"CASE members are particularly disappointed that SolarWorld's request to expand the scope of products affected by the solar dispute remains under consideration by the Department of Commerce. Accepting a broader scope would disregard decades of legal precedent that define scope using the "˜single country of origin' and "˜substantial transformation' trade rules. The proposed new scope is also fundamentally inconsistent with the Department's own previous determination in the 2012 solar cell dispute."
