US targets solar imports from India, Indonesia and Laos with steep duties

The US Commerce Department has announced steep duty rates on imports of solar cells and panels from India, Indonesia and Laos after an investigation found that producers in the three countries had sold products at unfairly low prices in the United States and benefited from government subsidies.

Reuters reported that the department set anti-dumping margins at 123.04% for Indian producers, 94.36% for those in Indonesia and 65.43% for producers in Laos.

The department also set countervailing duty rates at 126.09% for Indian producers. Indonesian manufacturers face rates ranging from 73.2% to 173.7%, while producers in Laos face rates of between 82.03% and 153.67%.

The US trade investigation was launched following a petition by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, whose members include major US solar manufacturers First Solar, Hanwha Qcells and Mission Solar Energy.

Tim Brightbill, lead counsel for the alliance, said Friday’s determination marked an important step towards enforcing US trade laws and restoring fair competition for American solar manufacturers and workers.

He added that the group would continue to monitor import data closely and pursue companies attempting to evade trade rules, regardless of where they moved their production in the future.

The US International Trade Commission (USITC) is scheduled to make a final determination on October 14 on whether the imports have caused, or threaten to cause, material injury to domestic producers.

If the commission reaches an affirmative determination, the Commerce Department is expected to issue final duty orders in November.

The case is the latest chapter in a long-running trade dispute in the solar industry. The United States first imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese solar products in 2012, a move that subsequently encouraged Chinese manufacturers to shift production to other Asian countries.

Source: Reuters