REC Silicon named respondent in trade case against US imports to China

Jul 23, 2012 - Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (OSL:REC) said last Friday its unit REC Silicon haа been named a respondent in a trade case filing initiated by Chinese producers against polysilicon imports from the US into the country.

REC Silicon denies any wrongdoing in this respect, the Norwegian solar group said.

According to REC, the trade case has been provoked by the solar trade war started in the US by German photovoltaic (PV) group Solarworld. It has triggered the imposing of preliminary anti-dumping and countervailing duties against Chinese solar cells being imported into the US.

Chinese producers and authorities will make an investigation and in this respect they have listed all companies, which produce polysilicon in the US, John Andersen, REC EVP, told Norwegian news wire iMarkedet Xpress last Friday.

REC Silicon produces polysilicon at factories in Moses Lake, Washington and in Butte, Montana. Andersen said that Chinese companies want to investigate whether the US authorities have provided support, which could be the basis for implementing measures against import of polysilicon to China.

REC has opposed the imposed import duties in the US. The group said it is also opposing a potential trade case against Chinese-made solar modules imported into Europe.

REC Silicon said it does not believe it has engaged in price discrimination or unfair or illegal international trade in the export of its US made polysilicon to China and will defend itself in relation to any such charges.

REC has urged the US and China to start a constructive dialogue as an escalation of a trade war would have negative consequences.

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