There have been some recent changes on the solar PV front. Anti-dumping duties were imposed on polysilicon solar cells exported from China to the United States on May 18, courtesy of a Department of Commerce (DOC) action. That action followed an investigation launched at the behest of supplier Solar World.
Above: Statistics on Chinese exports of polysilicon solar cells to the United States.
What happens now?
According to a Financial Times article, “Industry executives and analysts expect the largest Chinese solar power companies such as Suntech Power, Trina Solar and Yingli Green Energy to use components from Taiwan, Korea and other countries to maintain their position in the fast-growing US market.”
In a Bloomberg Buisnessweek article, Solar World’s boss, Gordon Brinser, was quoted saying the 31% tariff “gives rise to the possibility that domestic solar manufacturing, environmentally sustainable solar production and robust global competition might one day soon return, boosting U.S. manufacturing jobs.”
Wind tower action
Less than two weeks later, the DOC required a cash deposit be collected on imported wind towers from China, pending a final decision. Initially, the finding is that “Chinese producers and exporters of utility-scale wind towers are receiving subsidies ranging from just under 14 percent to 26 percent on making the products,” according to Xinhuanet.com, a Chinese source of English-language news.
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