WTO takes China's side in solar conflict with US

Jul 15, 2014 - The World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Monday ruled out that the US’ decision from 2012 to introduce anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duties on China-made solar panels was against global trade regulations.

The trade body’s three-member panel said that the US should “bring its measures into conformity with its obligations" under the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) agreement. The ruling is the response to a complaint by China from May 2012. The decision is subject to an appeal process and its impact on the conflict is still not known.

Following the imposition of anti-dumping levies of up to 250% on China-made crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells from 2012, the US in February this year launched anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into imports of solar products from China and Taiwan. Last month, the US Department of Commerce imposed preliminary anti-subsidy duties of between 18.56% and 35.21% on imports of China-made solar equipment, including PV panels assembled with cells from Taiwan.

The WTO also concluded that punitive tariffs in the US on imports of some Chinese steel products and other goods violate trade rules. In a separate statement, the WTO also urged the US to change the way it imposes duties on steel products coming from India.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!