On December 2nd, 2011 the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) unanimously approved a decision to continue an investigation into Chinese subsidies for solar photovoltaic (PV) products and their impacts on the U.S. PV manufacturing industry.

As a result of the vote, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will continue countervailing duty and anti-dumping investigations, with preliminary rulings expected around January 12th, 2012 and March 22nd, 2012, respectively. The move was applauded by SolarWorld Industries Americas Inc. (Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.) and criticized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, which has opened an investigation on U.S. subsidies of it's one for wind and solar products.

"Today’s unanimous vote is another step toward restoring the healthy global competition in the solar industry that has reliably driven down production costs and prices by 10 percent or so a year for many years," said SolarWorld Americas President Gordon Brinser.

"We only ask for fair and legal competition, which is good for industry and consumers alike."

U.S. Democratic Party expresses support of investigation

SolarWorld, which led a coalition of six other anonymous PV manufacturers in petitioning for the investigation, notes that if the DOC rules on "critical circumstances", it can require importers to put up bonds or cash deposits on estimated duties for imports back to October 14th, 2011.

Also on December 2nd, 2011, 59 members of the U.S. Congress, including leadership from President Obama's Democratic Party, wrote to the President to "take all available measures" to investigate allegations of unfair trade, and to take action based on those findings.

The letter also calls for an extension of policy supports for renewable energy industries in the United States, mentioning a tax credit for advanced energy manufacturing but not mentioning the Treasury Grant Program by name.

On December 3rd, 2011, China's Ministry of Commerce issued a statement stating that the ITC ruling was made without adequate evidence that the U.S. PV industry has been harmed, and noting opposition to the trade case by sections of the U.S. PV industry.

2011-12-05| Courtesy: U.S. International Trade Commission; Image: SolarWorld Industries Americas Inc. | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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