U.S. Solar Industry Coalition applauds Commerce Department ruling in landmark dumping case
Washington, USA — The 210-company Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing reacted positively to the news that the U.S. Department of Commerce found Chinese manufacturers guilty of dumping solar cells and panels into the U.S. market, calling it a very positive first step. Commerce issued its preliminary determination in response to a dumping case filed by Oregon-based SolarWorld Industries America Inc. As a result of its finding, Commerce imposed preliminary margins of 31.14 percent for Trina, 31.22 percent for Suntech, 31.18 percent for others and 249.96 percent for China-wide (companies that did not participate in the case).
"The verdict is in," said Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld. "In addition to its preliminary finding that Chinese solar companies were on the receiving end of at least 10 WTO-illegal subsidies, Commerce has now confirmed that Chinese manufacturers are guilty of illegally dumping solar cells and panels in the U.S. market. We appreciate the Commerce staff's hard work on this matter."
Commerce also granted SolarWorld's request for a finding of "critical circumstances" to counter the recent flood of Chinese imports into the U.S. market ahead of the decision. As a result, the preliminary dumping tariffs will be retroactive 90 days from the date the decision is published in the Federal Register.
On October 19, 2011, SolarWorld, with the support of six other solar manufacturers including Helios Solar Works, based in Milwaukee, Wisc. and MX Solar USA, based in Somerset, N.J., filed anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions with Commerce and the International Trade Commission. The petitions alleged that Chinese manufacturers were illegally dumping solar cells and panels in the U.S. market and receiving billions in WTO-illegal subsidies. Commerce issued its preliminary decision on the countervailing duty petition on March 17, 2012.
"Commerce's ruling in the SolarWorld case is a bellwether decision," added Steve Ostrenga, chief executive officer of Helios. "It underscores the importance of domestic manufacturing to the U.S. economy and will help determine whether the country will be a global competitor in clean technologies or outsource them China. It is also critically important for thousands of U.S. workers."
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