Finding of harm against U.S. industry means imposition of import duties will go forward, reigniting American factory hiring after years of facing illegal trade practices
SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar manufacturer for nearly 40 years, commended the U.S. International Trade Commission for its votes this morning determining that imports of solar products from China and Taiwan are injuring U.S. manufacturers. Today's votes were the final steps in the company's second set of trade cases and SolarWorld's tenth consecutive victory in those cases. The commission voted 5-0 with regard to China and 4-1 with regard to Taiwan.
"Today's decision confirms the facts set out in our initial filing, the commission staff report and our testimony at the agency's November hearing in the case. Manufacturers in China and Taiwan used illegal trade practices that harm the U.S. industry," said Mukesh Dulani, U.S. president of SolarWorld. "U.S. companies, including SolarWorld, Suniva and Silicon Energy, thank the commission and its staff for its thorough investigation and fourth vote to uphold American trade laws."
"Last night, in his State of the Union address, President Obama spoke about the need to promote the middle class, job creation and economic growth," Dulani continued. "American solar manufacturers have been doing their part by building or expanding facilities and hiring workers in states such as Oregon, Michigan, Ohio and New York. This additional capacity will help us meet the need in the market for American-made solar. Today's votes will allow us to move forward with additional certainty and will likely mean additional investment and hiring in the future."
"Although these second cases have come to an end, there is still much work to do," Dulani added. "We will continue to work with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to ensure that U.S. trade laws are thoroughly and effectively enforced to prevent circumvention. We also want to take this opportunity to thank those who stood with us throughout the cases. They include Sen. Ron Wyden, members of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing and their more than 25,000 employees and, most importantly, the exceptional employees at SolarWorld, who have supported the company throughout both trade cases."
On Dec. 16, 2014, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced anti-dumping duty rates of 52.13 percent and anti-subsidy rates of 38.72 percent on most imports of solar panels made in China and anti-dumping rates of 19.50 percent on most imports of solar cells made in Taiwan, regardless of where they are assembled into panels. In separate SolarWorld cases concluded in December 2012, Commerce imposed duties averaging about 29 percent on solar cells from China, regardless of where they are assembled into panels. Until recently, the Chinese industry largely evaded the earlier duties by using cells made in Taiwan.
The duties in these second cases are expected to go into effect around Feb. 1.
