Earlier this week, the U.S. Commerce Department released a preliminary decision on countervailing on imports of solar cells from China, which will result in import duties ranging from 2.9% to 4.73% for Suntech Power (STP) and Trina Solar (TSL) respectively. All other Chinese exporters are subject to an import duty of 3.61%. While the initial tariff imposition is much lower than widely expected by industry observers, it sends a wrong message, which could lead to greater solar industry trade friction between China and the U.S. The overall effect could result in an incrementally negative impact for U.S. solar-related companies.

The Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy (AFASE) is calling on the European Commission to uphold free trade in order to secure jobs in the European solar sector and support further industry growth and progress. With this call for open markets AFASE is reacting on the Notice of Initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning Chinese solar products the European Commission has published today. Several European solar manufacturers had filed an antidumping complaint at the EU end of July.

On the occasion of the Intersolar in Munich, the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry, the Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy (AFASE) speaks out against any protectionist measures in the European solar industry. The sector strongly depends on free trade and fair competition. Both have contributed greatly to making solar energy more affordable and to the creation of thousands of high value jobs across Europe. “China is the second largest trading partner for the EU”, says Jerry Stokes, President of Suntech Europe, an affiliate of AFASE. “Protectionist measures in the solar industry would benefit no one, and European consumers would be among the first to suffer due to higher prices for solar products. Erecting trade barriers would therefore not be in the common interest of the EU.”

Solarworld-Chef Frank Asbeck gibt den Kämpfer für fairen Wettbewerb. Dabei ist Deutschlands Branchenprimus selbst einer der größten Subventionsempfänger, auch in den USA. Frank Asbeck gilt als Strahlemann der deutschen Solarbranche. Doch das Lächeln weicht dem 52-jährigen Chef des Bonner Solarmodulherstellers Solarworld langsam aus dem pausbackigen Gesicht. Preisverfall, Werksschließungen, Wertberichtigungen und Verluste in dreistelliger Millionen-Euro-Höhe verfinstern die Miene des Gründers und Miteigentümers des bekanntesten deutschen Solarunternehmens. Wie zuvor Solon, Q-Cells, Solar Millennium oder Conergy gerät nun auch Solarworld in Bedrängnis.

The U.S. Department of Commerce concluded yesterday that the Chinese government is improperly subsidizing solar manufacturers, so the United States will impose countervailing duties ranging from 2.9 percent to 4.73 percent on Chinese-made solar panels and cells.

In a letter sent today to President Barack Obama, CEOs of 45 US solar energy companies strongly urged the President in his meeting with China’s Vice President Xi Jinping “to discuss the mutual benefits of renewable energy development, especially solar photovoltaic technology.” The 45 CEOs represent a cross-section of the US solar industry employing thousands of US workers in 19 states.

Im Handelsblatt bezieht Ben Hill, Europa-Chef des chinesischen Solarkonzerns Trina Solar Stellung und zeigt sich enttäuscht von der Abwehrreaktion von SolarWorld und seinen Koalitionspartnern. In den USA ist bereits eine Klage gegen chinesische Hersteller anhängig, ihnen wirft die sogenannte CASM (Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing) vor, Solarmodule zu Dumpingpreisen auf den Markt zu bringen. Für Europa hat Frank Asbeck, Chef von SolarWorld eine ähnliche Klage angekündigt.

A group of seven US-based manufacturers of solar panels is alarmed. These manufacturers, led by Solar World, a German firm with a plant in Oregon, filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission, which reached a preliminary conclusion in December that US companies were, in fact, being harmed by subsidized imports. If the Commerce Department goes on to find that Chinese firms have been dumping solar panels on the US market at prices below their costs, it could impose steep tariffs of 50 to 250% on Chinese panels, according to this report in The Times by Matt Wald. The Chinese government provides billions of dollars of low-cost financing and free or cheap land to Chinese solar firms.

Restrictive Trade Measures Will Drive Up PV Product Prices and Result in Delayed Achievement of Economical and Environmental Objectives Any restrictive trade measures resulting in levy of tariffs on imported Chinese PV products will inevitably drive up prices for companies that purchase PV panels and components, seriously hit their business development and may also slow
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Market Growth of Chinese PV Product Exports Results from Competitive Advantages, Not Dumping or Illicit Subsidies Growth of Chinese PV product exports worldwide results from competitive advantages on the market, not dumping or subsidies: This fact is underlined by several Chinese PV suppliers taking top rankings in the latest global PV industry sustainable growth index
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