Legal

According to various reports, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has once again moved back the deadline for its decision regarding the SolarWorld-led U.S.-China trade dispute.

Jeffries organized another conference call with trade law expert Ed Lebow on January 18 and Lebow’s clear message to the PV industry in the U.S. was that “you just don’t want to be an importer of record” of Chinese crystalline silicon cells and panels.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has postponed its preliminary decision on the PV trade dispute with China to February 13, 2012. The original deadline was January 12, 2012.

According to various media, India is considering following in the footsteps of the U.S. and launching its own investigation into Chinese solar imports.

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) voted unanimously (6-0) on Friday, December 2, to go forward with an investigation into whether “dumped and subsidized” imports from China have materially injured the U.S. domestic solar industry.

In the latest development of the U.S.-China trade dispute, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) has issued a statement on behalf of the country’s photovoltaic companies. In it, it said there is “no intention” of starting a trade war, but that the Chinese solar companies will fight those who have petitioned against them.

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.