The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said yesterday it was “greatly concerned” about Washington’s investigation into whether Chinese companies are selling solar panels in the US at unfair discounts.
Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang (沈丹陽) said in a statement on the ministry’s Web site that the probe could jeopardize Beijing’s cooperation on energy issues.
The US Department of Commerce said on Wednesday it would investigate whether Chinese companies sell solar panels in the US at unfair discounts and receive illegal government subsidies.
The trade dispute, one of several sensitive economic and trade issues between the US and China, could lead to steep duties on imports of Chinese panels and help struggling domestic manufacturers.
“The Chinese government is greatly concerned about this case,” Shen said, adding that China retains the right to adopt corresponding measures within the framework of the WTO.
Chinese solar manufacturers, which will be most affected by the petition, include Suntech Power Holdings (尚德電力), Yingli Green Energy Holding and Trina Solar.
The action comes as world leaders at the APEC meeting gather this week to discuss a plan to reduce taxes and market-distorting regulations on environmental goods, including solar products.
Industry experts said the Department Commerce’s decision to launch the investigation could derail efforts of leaders to move forward with the plan.
“Governments should recognize the distinct role that solar plays in reducing carbon emissions. Surely, trade barriers do not serve a role in promoting [the sector’s] growth,” said K.K. Chan, chief executive at private equity fund Nature Elements Capital.
The US Department of Commerce on Wednesday accepted a petition from SolarWorld Industries Americas Inc, which last month asked the US government to slap duties on Chinese solar cells and modules.
SolarWorld is the US arm of SolarWorld AG, one of Germany’s largest solar product manufacturers, which shut down a California plant earlier this year because of a steep drop in solar panel prices.
US Senator Ron Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance’s Subcommittee on Trade, Customs and Global Competiveness, said a US anti-dumping probe into Chinese solar panels was justified.
“Free trade does not mean trade free from rules,” the senator said in a statement.
The US International Trade Commission, which has the final say on whether any duties are imposed, will examine the issue and vote on Dec. 5 on whether there is enough evidence of injury to US companies for the case to proceed. The Commerce Department would then make its preliminary decisions on duties in January and March.
While the US probe threatens to deprive Chinese rivals of a large chunk of the solar market, analysts say US solar firms also risk losing some of the business too if the dispute escalates into a major rift between the two nations.
“Chinese orders of raw materials and equipment from the US will be negatively affected if this tension results in weaker demand from China,” said Min Li (李敏), head of Alternative Energy at Yuanta Securities (元大證券).
MEMC Electronic Materials, which sells polysilicon and other solar products to Chinese companies, Applied Materials, and GT Advanced Technologies, which supplies machines and equipment to China, are among US companies that may be affected.
“So it’s not just the Chinese who are losing in the trade dispute. There are US solar firms that also rely on China to market their goods,” Li said.
The US was a significant net exporter of solar products last year, including to China, according to US industry group Solar Energy Industries Association. Total US exports of solar energy products were US$5.6 billion, with net exports totaling US$2 billion.
US imports of solar panels from China rose to US$1.5 billion last year from US$640 million in 2009.
Stephen Garrett, a 27-year-old graduate student, always thought he would study in China, but first the country’s restrictive COVID-19 policies made it nearly impossible and now he has other concerns. The cost is one deterrent, but Garrett is more worried about restrictions on academic freedom and the personal risk of being stranded in China. He is not alone. Only about 700 American students are studying at Chinese universities, down from a peak of nearly 25,000 a decade ago, while there are nearly 300,000 Chinese students at US schools. Some young Americans are discouraged from investing their time in China by what they see
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