Trade Cases on Imports of Clean Energy Products from China

The US department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission have commenced proceedings in trade cases regarding imports of solar cells and other clean energy products from China. The matter is now progressing through the official process for handling such international trade cases. ChinaFAQs has assembled a collection of resources and statements from official sources, media, and concerned groups regarding the cases, and will continue to monitor developments as they unfold.

US International Trade Commission

• Institution notice: Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells and Modules from China
• Other notices, documents, calendar of proceedings, investigators, etc.

US Department of Commerce

• Antidumping Duty Order on Chinese Wind Towers
  (February 15, 2013)
• Final Affirmative Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Determinations of the investigations of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells
  (October 10, 2012)
• Commerce Preliminarily Finds Countervailable Subsidization of Imports of Utility Scale Wind Towers from the People’s Republic of China”
  (May 30, 2012)
• Commerce Preliminarily Finds Dumping of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules from the People’s Republic of China fact sheet
  (May 17, 2012)
• Explanation of Commerce’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigation Process
  (March 20, 2012)
• Department of Commerce fact sheet

U.S. Trade Representative

• Executive Order – Establishment of the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center
• Joint statement by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Commerce Secretary John Bryson
• Statements from members of U.S. Congress on the establishment of the Center

China Ministry of Commerce

• China criticizes US anti-subsidy measures (Mar 7, 2012)
• Chamber appeals to US not to launch anti-dumping probe on Chinese solar products (Oct 27, 2011)

Media/Analysis

• China, U.S. and APEC Leaders Agree to Cap Tariffs on Green Goods
  ChinaFAQs (September 24, 2012)
  Full text of the Vladivostok Declaration
• Asia-Pacific Forum to Cut Import Duties for Green Technologies
  The New York Times (September 7, 2012)
• U.S. Sets Tariffs on Chinese Wind-Turbine Towers
  The Wall Street Journal (May 31, 2012)
• Guest post: Blinded by the (solar) light
  Financial Times (May 22, 2012)
• U.S. Slaps High Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels
  The New York Times (May 17, 2012)
• U.S. sets new tariffs on Chinese solar imports: source
  Reuters (May 17, 2012)
• 5 Myths and Realities About U.S.-China Solar Trade Competition: Our Nation Cannot Capitulate to China’s Solar Technology Ambitions
  Center for American Progress (May 16, 2012)
• Trina Considering U.S. Factory to Increase Solar Market Share
  Bloomberg (Mar 21, 2012)
• STATEMENT: CAP’s Hart on Commerce Department’s Tariff Announcement for Chinese-Manufactured Solar Panels
  Center for American Progress (Mar 20, 2012)
• US govt sets new tariffs on China solar panels
  Associated Press (Mar 20, 2012)
• U.S. Sets Duties as High as 4.73% on China Solar Equipment
  Bloomberg (Mar 20, 2012)
• Solar-Trade Fight Flares Up
  The Wall Street Journal (Mar 20, 2012)
• A Measured Rebuttal to China Over Solar Panels
  The New York Times (Mar 20, 2012)
• The Complexities of the U.S. Decision on Chinese Solar Panel Imports: We Need to Think Long Term About U.S.-China Clean Energy Trade
  Center for American Progress (Mar 15, 2012)
• China Getting Concerned Over Trade War
  Forbes (Mar 1, 2012)
• U.S. lawmakers agree on bill to fight China subsidies
  Reuters (Feb 29, 2012)
• Obama, eyeing China, creates trade enforcement unit
  Reuters (Feb 29, 2012)
• Shining a Light on U.S.-China Clean Energy Cooperation: New Approaches Needed to Ensure China’s Global Technology Ambitions Do Not Erode U.S. Clean Energy Competitiveness
  Center for American Progress (Feb 9, 2012)
• Panel Backs Probe of Solar Firms’ Dumping Claims
  Wall Street Journal (Dec 2, 2011)
• Chinese Solar Organization Accuses US of Dumping Polysilicon in China
  Greentech Media (Nov 21, 2011)
• SolarWorld Circulates Petition for European Trade Complaint
  Renewable Energy World (Nov 16, 2011)
• APEC leaders commit to green trade liberalization
  Thomson Reuters (Nov 14, 2011)
• Solar Energy Affordability Drives Adoption in California; Anti-trade Petition to Harm U.S. Solar Industry
  Sacramento Bee (Nov 14, 2011)
• Ministry of Commerce responds to solar dumping case
  China Daily (Nov 11, 2011)
• Trade War in Solar Takes Shape
  New York Times, Bradsher (Nov 9, 2011)
• US, China Solar Tensions Threaten to Eclipse Environmental Trade Talks
  ICSTD (Nov 9, 2011)
• US Solar Installers Oppose China Trade Complaint
  Forbes (Nov 8, 2011)
• United Steelworkers back solar complaint on China
  Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch (Nov 7, 2011)
• Obama, Suntech, and SolarWorld on the Solar Trade Rift [VIDEO]
  Greentech Media (Nov 6, 2011)
• China’s PV Firms Respond to Solar Trade Claims
  Greentech Media (Oct 27, 2011)
• Trade Disputes Hurt Renewable Energy, Chinese Executive Asserts
  New York Times (Oct 27, 2011)
• China slams US over solar complaint
  Reuters (Oct 21, 2011)
• China’s Competitive Advantage in the Solar Industry: How Advantageous is it Really?
  ChinaFAQs (Oct 3, 2011)

Chinese Photovoltaic Industry

• Suntech Response To Preliminary Decision on CVD Tariffs In The Subsidy Investigation on PV Cells From China (Mar 20, 2012)
• Yingli Green Energy Comments on U.S. Department of Commerce’s Preliminary Decision on Anti-Subsidy Tariffs for Chinese Solar Cells and Modules (Mar 20, 2012)
• Statement of the Chinese Photovoltaic Industry on the Investigation Petition Filed by Certain U.S. Companies against Chinese PV Cells (Nov 1, 2011)

Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) - U.S. Manufacturers of Solar Cell Antidumping and Subsidy Cases Against China

• CASM Response to the Department of Commerce Preliminary Ruling (Mar 20, 2012)
• Homepage
• Fact sheet

Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE)

• CASE Response to the Department of Commerce Preliminary Ruling (Mar 20, 2012)
• CASE Calls on CASM Members to Disclose Subsidies (Mar 19, 2012)
• Press release (Nov 8, 2011)
• Homepage
• Fact Sheets

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

• SEIA Calls on Governments and Industry Groups to Pursue Global Dialogue on Solar Trade and Competitiveness (Mar 20, 2012)
• SEIA Statement on Expected Petitions for the U.S. Government to Investigate Chinese Trade Practices (Oct 19, 2011)

Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI)

• SEMI Statement on Department of Commerce Findings in Solar Trade Case (Mar 20, 2012)
• Statement on China Solar case (Nov 15, 2011)

SolarWorld

• SolarWorld Response to the Department of Commerce Preliminary Ruling (Mar 20, 2012)
• Press release (Oct 19, 2011)
• Blog post (Oct 21, 2011)