The US Department of Commerce has started a new investigation into imports of solar power products from China, following a renewed complaint from the US arm of Germany's SolarWorld.
SolarWorld made a formal complaint at the end of last year in a bid to close a loophole in regulations imposed on Chinese-manufactured solar panels that sought to prevent such products being 'dumped' on the US market at below-market rates.
The Commerce Department and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) will now both investigate whether Chinese manufacturers have been side-stepping the regulations - which imposed import tariffs on their products - by using solar cells manufactured in other countries.
In a statement SolarWorld said that the loophole had enabled "Chinese producers to evade duties averaging about 31 per cent by assembling modules from cells manufactured in third countries". As a result, the company said, China has continued to improperly subsidize its export-intensive campaign and sell below production costs in the US market to seize market share.
The Commerce Department said that the investigation could result in expanded duties being imposed on some imported solar panels. It is primarily investigating whether Chinese firms have been importing panels manufactured in Taiwan.
Earlier in January, China said it would impose punitive antidumping tariffs of up to 57 per cent on US manufactured polysilicon, a key material in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic panels.
In October 2012, the US government set steep duties on billion of dollars of solar products from China.
The ITC said it would make a decision by mid-February on whether imports from China or Taiwan have materially injured the US solar industry. It will make a final ruling before any duties are applied.
Sian Crampsie
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