China to stop imports of solar polysilicon from US, EU, Korea

Aug 15, 2014 - China will block processed polysilicon imports from September 1, due to a rise in shipments from South Korea, the US and Europe, its Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs said yesterday.

Solar-grade polysilicon coming from the European Union (EU) is already subject to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs in China for two years starting May 1, 2014. Meanwhile, US and South Korean importers of the raw material face anti-dumping duties for five years as of January 20, 2014. These levies were imposed by China as a response to the EU and the US’ moves to punish Chinese photovoltaics (PV) makers for dumping and illegal subsidies.

China’s decision to halt polysilicon imports brings additional pressure in the expanding trade conflict within the solar industry. Media reports from earlier this week said that the EU may launch a new probe in order to determine whether panel makers from China are circumventing the import duties the bloc imposed last year. Two months earlier the US imposed more duties on imports of China-made solar equipment, including PV panels assembled with cells from Taiwan.

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