US govt sets final duties on solar imports from China, Taiwan

Dec 17, 2014 - The US Department of Commerce (DOC) on Tuesday levied final anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties of up to 165% and 49.79%, respectively, on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) products from China and Taiwan.

In the final ruling, the anti-subsidy tariff for Trina Solar Ltd (NYSE:TSL) and its subsidiaries was increased to 49.79% from the preliminary 18.56%. The China-wide rate was lifted to 38.72% from 26.89%.

The anti-dumping duties for imports of crystalline silicon PV products from the two Asian countries were also hiked. For example, they now stand at 78.42% for JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd (NYSE:JKS) and ReneSola Ltd (NYSE:SOL), as compared to 58.87% previously. Some 43 listed Chinese PV makers saw their duties rise to 52.13% from 42.33%. All other manufacturers, or “China-wide entity”, will pay 165.04% which is the rate in the preliminary decision.

In contrast, solar cell producers from Taiwan will be levied anti-dumping tariffs of 19.5%, instead of 35.89%. Gintech Energy Corp (TPE:3514) and Motech Industries Inc (TPO:6244) got separate rates of 27.55% and 11.45%, respectively. For Motech, that is a significant drop from a preliminary tariff of 44.18%.

A preliminary ruling for the tariffs was issued this summer after the US arm of German firm SolarWorld AG (ETR:SWV) called on authorities to “close a loophole in trade remedies” which has allowed Chinese firms to avoid duties by assembling PV panels using solar cells made outside China, such as in Taiwan. “These remedies come just in time to enable the domestic industry to return to conditions of fair trade,” said the president of SolarWorld USA, Mukesh Dulani.

The tariffs have to be approved by the The International Trade Commission (ITC) in January. If that happens, the duties will go into effect around February 1.

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