The U.S. International Trade Commission has voted unanimously that Chinese imports of solar panels have harmed the domestic photovoltaic industry because those imports are subsidized and sold below fair value.
The vote allows the tariff imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce last month to move forward. They range from 24% to 36%.
Germany-based company SolarWorld, which has factories in the U.S., and other companies filed a petition with the Department of Commerce and ITC in October of 2011, alleging that Chinese companies were dumping solar cells in the U.S. Both organizations have now determined that to be the case.
“With this relief, combined with an aggressive domestic enforcement regime, there is hope that the United States can maintain a viable solar manufacturing base, conduct ongoing research and development, and continue to make solar an increasingly viable part of the American renewable-energy portfolio,” said Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld Industries America, in a statement quoted by the National Journal.
The domestic industry is divided in thought about how this case will affect it. Companies and organizations opposed to the duties were becoming increasingly vocal.
One opponent is the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, or CASE. The organization is roundly against tariffs, but is pleased the ITC determined there were no critical circumstances, and therefore no reason to apply the tariffs retroactively, which it believes would have worsened the situation.
“Now that both Commerce and the ITC have ruled, we will continue to encourage dialogue and negotiation between the U.S. and Chinese governments to seek a constructive resolution,” the coalition said in a release. “Unilateral tariffs and a trade war in today’s interconnected global marketplace are unnecessary and detrimental to effective and efficient business competition.”
Another opponent of tariffs, Tom Gutierrez, CEO of GT Advanced Technologies, weighed in with the following statement:
“We retain the view that these tariffs will make solar products more expensive and delay the growth of this important renewable source of energy,” he said. “It will also make it more difficult for U.S. entrepreneurial companies like GT to export solar products abroad, which further risks the loss of American jobs. Lastly, the tariffs threaten to spark a solar trade war with China, a key U.S. economic partner.”
This is a developing story …
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