China-made PV products face dumping, subsidy probes in Canada

Dec 8, 2014 - Chinese photovoltaic (PV) module and laminate exporters are facing a new round of dumping and subsidising probes, this time in Canada.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said Friday it is commencing an investigation into Chinese imports in response to a complaint by Ontario-based firm Eclipsall Energy Corp, Heliene Inc, Silfab Ontario Inc and Solgate Inc. They are alleging that the rising volumes of dumped and subsidised PV products are hurting Canadian manufacturers by eroding prices and cutting their market shares. Local solar companies are blaming Chinese imports for lost sales, reduced production, job cuts and insolvencies.

CBSA will issue a preliminary decision on March 5, 2015, following an investigation aimed at determining whether China-made solar products on the Canadian market are being dumped and/or subsidised. Meanwhile, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal will carry out a preliminary inquiry to see if such imports are harming Canadian manufacturers and will announce a decision by February 3, 2015.

In the press release, CBSA pointed out that the possible anti-dumping or countervailing levies might be retroactive to December 5, 2014 if the Tribunal determines that “an unusually large increase in harmful imports” has taken place ahead of CBSA’s preliminary decision.

If the CBSA does make a preliminary determination of dumping and/or subsidising, there will be further investigations in order to arrive at a final decision as regards to punitive measures 90 days after the date of the preliminary determination. Chinese solar imports are already subject to duties in Europe and the US.

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