Suniva, SolarWorld seek tariffs, floor prices and quotas for PV imports

Suniva Inc and SolarWorld Americas Inc have proposed similar import tariffs on crystalline silicon (CS) PV cells and modules in the Section 201 solar trade case, while their views differ when it comes to the additional measures that need to be taken.

Last week, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) accepted recommendations on how to protect the US solar manufacturing industry from imports. A public hearing on possible trade remedies is scheduled for October 3.

In its initial petition for global safeguards Suniva proposed cell import tariffs starting at USD 0.40 (EUR 0.34) per watt and a minimum price on crystalline silicon PV module imports of USD 0.78/W. Since April the company has changed a bit its calculations and in last week’s filing it proposes slightly lower rates.

The table below shows the four-year import tariffs sought by both Suniva and SolarWorld.

In addition to these tariffs, Suniva also recommends a floor price of USD 0.74/W on imported solar modules, saying such a measure is needed to remedy the serious injury inflicted by foreign market overcapacity. Similar to the tariffs, the floor price will be going down every year for four years.

SolarWorld has taken a different direction and, instead of a floor price, is proposing quotas for cell and module imports of 220 MW and 5,700 MW, respectively, for 2018. These, the company says, would “allow the domestic industry to recover market share and profitability” and also help prevent the circumvention of the tariffs.

The next table contains Suniva’s floor price and SolarWorld’s quota proposals.

The ITC is to present its injury determination and remedy recommendations to President Donald Trump by November 13, 2017. Trump will then decide whether to impose tariffs or other remedies, as well as their form, amount and duration.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.85)

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