Concern that the solar industry could be represented by Chinese manufacturers in a US anti-dumping investigation was temporarily relieved, but the government said it would watch the case closely, a government official said yesterday.
An official familiar with the case yesterday confirmed reports that the US International Trade Commission would select respondents from Taiwanese manufacturers — rather than from Chinese companies — to speak for Taiwanese firms involved in the case.
Submissions for the investigation’s Quantity and Value Questionnaire closed on Feb. 19 and the US Department of Commerce did not receive any responses from Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
All submissions were made by Taiwanese firms and the commission would only select defendants from companies that had made the deadline, so Taiwanese photovoltaic makers would be able to defend their own interests and rights, the official said.
The commission launched an investigation last month in response to a renewed complaint by the US arm of German firm SolarWorld AG over Chinese solar energy companies that allegedly sidestepped US antidumping and countervailing duties by outsourcing photovoltaic solar cell production to Taiwan. It ruled on Feb. 14 that the practice had caused material injury to US solar producers.
According to the Bureau of Foreign Trade, 21 Taiwanese firms were involved in the case, including the Neo Solar Power Corp and Motech industries Inc, the nation’s solar cell makers that sell the most photovoltaic products to the US.
During the Lunar New Year period, two Chinese photovoltaic makers, Yingli Green Energy and Hanwha SolarOne stated in a petition filed to the Department of Commerce that they hoped to respond to investigators on behalf of the Taiwanese firms.
Reports say the respondents were to be selected today.
The official said that the government was not aware a date for the selection to be made, but that it would keep a close eye on the case and assist the solar industry to defend itself.
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