The U.S. Sets New Tariffs on Chinese Solar Imports

The United States hit Chinese solar companies with punitive import tariffs of 30 percent or more on May 17, 2012, ruling they had dumped cut-price solar panels into the U.S. market.

In the latest salvo in a series of ongoing trade disputes between Beijing and Washington, the U.S. Commerce Department said it sided with U.S.-based solar companies that had complained a wave of Chinese imports had wrongly undercut their pricing and forced several renewable players out of business.

With May 17, 2012's move, Washington set tariffs on shipments from most of the top Chinese exporters, including Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd (STP.N) and Trina Solar Ltd (TSL.N), at about 31 percent.

Several of the Chinese companies and a solar trade group opposed to the tariffs denounced the duties, and said they would drive up costs for the clean energy source, stunting its fast growth.

The new tariff was "a heavy blow to America's solar industry," Jigar Shah, head of the anti-tariff Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, said.

Shah said he hoped the tariffs would be reduced before they are finalized later this year, since they would likely cost thousands of jobs in the nascent industry.

The new U.S. ruling stems from a complaint filed last October by t he U.S. subsidiary of Germany's SolarWorld AG (SWVG.DE), and six other U.S. companies that alleged unfair competition and had sought duties well above 100 percent.

China will criticize the move, according to White & Case trade attorney Scott Lincicome, "but it's unlikely to further enflame bilateral trade tensions because high anti-dumping duties were widely expected."

China's solar companies, which hold more than 60 percent of the global market, have largely relied on subsidized markets in Europe and the United States in recent years for purchases of their products, prompting criticism that huge loans from Chinese state-run banks and low-ball pricing gave the Chinese companies an unfair advantage.

Under the decision, 59 Chinese solar companies that petitioned the U.S. government in the case will also face an import duty of about 31 percent, including Yingli Green Energy (YGE.N), LDK Solar (LDK.N), Canadian Solar (CSIQ.O), Hanwha Solar One (HSOL.O), JA Solar Holding (JASO.O) and Jinko Solar (JKS.N).

Other Chinese companies could now face a 250 percent tariff, although those levels could be altered before the final ruling is issued from the Commerce Department in the coming months.

"On May 18, 2012 SolarWorld and the many industry players who embrace the sustainable efficiency gains and price declines that come from fair competition can take heart that the U.S. government is standing up against Big China Solar," Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld Industries America, said in a statement.

The U.S. ruling, retroactive to cover imports dating back 90 days, comes two months after Washington set more modest tariffs of less than 5 percent o n imports from China because of what it deemed Beijing's unfair support for its solar industry.

Chinese solar companies and critics of the SolarWorld complaint say global competition has been crucial to bringing down the cost of renewable power, which still relies on government subsidies to compete with fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.

Suntech, the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels and which also operates a panel plant in Arizona, denied it had sold its products below its cost of production and said it opposed any trade barriers.

"All leading companies in the global solar industry want to see a trade war averted. We need more competition and innovation, not litigation," Andrew Beebe, Suntech's chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

Shares of U.S.-based solar companies rose on the news, with First Solar Inc (FSLR.O) gaining 6.7 percent and Sunpower Corp (SPWR.O) gaining 10 percent. Sunpower Corp was already rallying after Apple Inc (AAPL.O) said it would use the company's solar panels for its solar farm.