Photovoltaics: the US introduces a new tariff on Chinese solar panels

    Photovoltaics: the US introduces a new tariff on Chinese solar panels

    The United States has introduced a new tariff to limit the spread of Chinese solar panels

    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    How to stem the invasion of panels made in China? If on the one hand Europe tries to intervene by encouraging the use of cells produced in the EU in various ways (think of the provisions contained in the fourth energy account), the US is running for cover by further increasing the duties already introduced last March to protect the national market.





    A kind of protectionism of renewables Made in the USA. In response to a complaint from the US group SolarWorld and six other companies complaining about the competition of Chinese rivals, the Commerce Department announced new duties ranging between 31% and 249%, involving 60 Chinese importers including Suntech e Trina Solar. These figures add up to 2,9% and 4,73% on solar cells and on the Chinese panels in force since March. These are the heaviest anti-dumping measures ever adopted by the United States.

    According to the US, Asian producers would have enjoyed some unfair help by public finance that would help them become an exporting power, selling cells and panels at prices below the "fair" value. The United States imported more than $ 3 billion worth of cells and panels last year alone, effectively doubling the amount of imports in 2010.

    I solar panels they are only part of a larger battle against Chinese business practices. The United States, the European Union and Japan have repeatedly submitted to the World Trade Organization various "doubtful" cases about China's actions. For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has accused the United States of protectionism. And officials said they will soon investigate U.S. trade subsidies for clean energy.

    The case of the solar trade has divided the American solar energy industry. Some panel makers, led by SolarWorld, have accused China of destroying more than 2.000 US solar manufacturing jobs due to extremely low tariffs. Gordon Brinser, president of Solarworld commented: "Our intent is to restart American renewable energy production."



    But China will certainly not stand by and watch. Chinese officials have already announced the counter move, which could involve a US import duty on silicon polycrystalline.

    Francesca Mancuso

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