SolarWorld commended the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) determination to impose preliminary anti-dumping import duties averaging about 42% on crystalline silicon solar panels made by the state-controlled Chinese solar industry from solar cells fabricated in third countries using Chinese inputs and about 36% on solar cells made in Taiwan.

DOC set preliminary rates of 26.33% and 58.87% on solar panels assembled in China (from third-country cells made from Chinese inputs) by mandatory respondents Trina Solar and ReneSola, respectively. The department also imposed preliminary anti-dumping duties rates of 27.59% and 44.18% on cells manufactured in Taiwan by Gintech Energy Corp. and Motech Industries Inc., respectively, whether or not assembled into solar panels in Taiwan or another country. Most other producers in China and Taiwan will receive import duty rates averaging the rates for the two producers in their respective countries.

Combined with preliminary countervailing duty rates issued last month, most companies will pay combined duties of about 47%. Duties go into effect immediately. They cover imports left unaddressed in an earlier set of trade cases concluded in 2012. A DOC fact sheet restates the scope of imports underlying the investigation to date.

“We and our workers are gratified to hear that the U.S. government once again has moved to block foreign government interference in our economy and clear the way for the domestic production industry to be able to compete on a level playing field,” said Mukesh Dulani, president of SolarWorld Industries America Inc. “We should not have to compete with dumped imports or the Chinese government. The actions should help the U.S. solar manufacturing industry to expand and innovate.”

On June 3, DOC announced preliminary anti-subsidy duties averaging 27% on panel imports from Chinese solar producers using cells from third countries made from Chinese inputs. For China, the announced anti-dumping and subsidy duties will be largely added together, with an adjustment for those subsidies deemed to be export subsidies. Final determinations are expected in mid-December.

The two sets of new preliminary duties supplement coverage of imports beyond the coverage of earlier cases and duties, which covered cells made in China, whether or not fully or partially assembled into panels there or elsewhere.

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