Trade cases

The U.S. may be launching an investigation into the alleged illegal dumping and subsidies of photovoltaic cells and modules from China into the U.S., but now it seems that China is conducting its very own inquiry into illegal polysilicon dumping and subsidies into the country by the U.S.

The U.S.-China trade investigation launched by SolarWorld is fast turning into a mudslinging match between the two countries. Now, it has been reported that China will be investigating U.S. renewable energy policy support and subsidies.

Set to be one of solar’s biggest topics of 2011 – a year already riddled with immense price pressure, insolvencies and investment issues – the U.S.-Chinese trade war is heating up. SEMI is the latest participant to make public its disgruntled feelings towards the petition. Meanwhile, CASM has vented its frustration at CASM’s defense of China’s “anti-competitive trade aggression”.

Taiwanese solar cell manufacturers are likely to benefit from the U.S.-China trade debate, if countervailing duties are imposed as early as March 2012. Meanwhile, following the first hearing by the International Trade Commission (ITC), the dispute was expanded to include solar cells. Word on the street is that SolarWorld is just on a marketing jaunt and could face a U.S. backlash.

According to reports, Chinese power plant developer, CECEP Solar Energy Technology Co. Ltd has halted development of a planned $500 million U.S. photovoltaic project, due to the anti-dumping petition submitted by SolarWorld.

U.S. President Barak Obama has dipped into the debate surrounding the SolarWorld-sponsored “trade case” it, along with an unnamed coalition of U.S. manufacturers, has filed against Chinese manufacturers.

UPDATE: Yingli responds as well to petition.
The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing’s petition protesting against Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers’ supposed dumping prices has sparked a response from Chinese manufacturing giant Suntech Power Holdings.

With mixed results, Solar Power International (SPI) came to a close yesterday in Dallas. Although with a total of 1,200 exhibitors a new record was reached, only 21,000 visitors attended, a decline on the previous year.

SolarWorld Industries America has submitted a petition to the U.S. Deparment of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission in protest to, what it claims, is Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers dumping product to capture market share. The company has done so with the support of a group of U.S. manufacturers.

Recent comments made by SolarWorld’s Frank Asbeck claiming that the Chinese solar companies are selling their wares at dumping prices, driving others out of the market has created some ripples, with Suntech refuting the comment. And amidst the continuing growth in China, some U.S. companies are seeing a slump, post-Solyndra meltdown.