Chinese Solar Manufacturers React To Commerce Department’s Tariff Decision

0

Chinese solar manufacturers are speaking out in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce's recent announcement that it will impose significant tariffs on Chinese PV cells and modules imported into the U.S.

Suntech, which was assigned a preliminarily antidumping duty of 31.22%, said it will continue talks with the DOC to defend itself against the claims.

‘These duties do not reflect the reality of a highly competitive global solar industry,’ Andrew Beebe, Suntech's chief commercial officer, said in a statement." Suntech has consistently maintained a positive gross margin, as revenues are higher than our cost of production. We will work closely with the Department of Commerce prior to their final decision to demonstrate why these duties are not justified by fact.

Despite the international tensions, Beebe said he hopes the company can work with the U.S. to avoid further trade conflicts.

‘Despite these harmful trade barriers, we hope that the U.S., China and all countries will engage in constructive dialogue to avert a deepening solar trade war," he said." Suntech opposes trade barriers at any point in the global solar supply chain. All leading companies in the global solar industry want to see a trade war averted. We need more competition and innovation, not litigation."

Meanwhile, Yingli Green Energy – which was slapped with a 31.18% anti-dumping tariff – outright rejected the DOC's decision and said it intends to fight for a different outcome for the final determination.

"We will continue to aggressively defend ourselves and remain optimistic that we will persevere in the final determination,’ said Robert Petrina, managing director of Yingli Green Energy Americas Inc., the company's operating subsidiary in the U.S.

Nonetheless, Yingli's chairman and CEO, Liangsheng Miao, said the tariffs will not stop the company from doing business in the U.S. market.

‘As we've stated before, tariffs are disruptive and destructive for the entire solar industry,’ Miao said." We remain fully committed to serving the U.S. market, irrespective of the outcome of these proceedings, and we will continue to strive for a global, competitive marketplace.’

Another major Chinese solar manufacturer, Trina Solar, also said it will continue to defend itself against the DOC's decision.

‘We intend to strongly defend – with data – our position that these duties are unwarranted and serve as an impediment to the broader adoption of solar energy in a time of rising fuel costs," said Mark Kingsley, chief commercial officer of Trina Solar, in a statement.

The company, which was handed a 31.14% tariff under the decision, also said it will continue to pursue opportunities in the U.S. and maintain its relationships with U.S.-based solar companies.

In order to be proactive in combating the inevitable price gains for U.S. purchasers of solar modules, Trina also says it intends to ramp up its cost-reduction efforts.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments