SolarWorld wins final round in dumping case against China, Taiwan

21/01/2015 12:00 - 496 Views

Hillsboro-based SolarWorld Industries America won a major decision Wednesday when the U.S. International Trade Commission agreed that China and Taiwan injured U.S.-based manufacturers through unfair trade practices.

The decision completes SolarWorld's second round of trade cases and its 10th consecutive win against China and now Taiwan.

The commission voted 5-0 that Chinese solar manufacturers violated trade rules. The vote was 4-1 against Taiwan manufacturers. The case accused Chinese manufacturers of evading earlier duties by incorporating cells manufactured in Taiwan into their solar panels.

SolarWorld President Mukesh Dulani was thrilled by the outcome, calling it validation that manufacturing jobs matter.

"I'd like to thank my executive team and the 750 people who work at SolarWorld every day who believe that U.S. manufacturing is successful and that we can make the best quality in the world," he said.

SolarWorld Industries America is the U.S. arm of German solar giant SolarWorld AG.

The trade commission decision confirms a December decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce to levy anti-dumping duty rates of 52.13 percent and anti-subsidy rates of 38.72 percent on most imported solar panels from China and anti-dumping rates of 19.50 percent on most solar cells manufactured in Taiwan.

The duties don't take effect unless the International Trade Commission determines if U.S. industry was actually harmed.

"Today, it was found that U.S. manufacturing was hurt," Dulani said.

In a separate case, SolarWorld saw earlier duties halved when regulators concluded the damage to U.S. firms wasn't as severe as thought. Dulani called that a preliminary decision and said SolarWorld will continue to make its case.

"We are not happy about the preliminary duties. But I personally think we will prove one more time that they are dumping more than was reflected in (the decision)," he said.

Dulani said the company is speeding ahead with an expansion of its cell and solar module lines in Hillsboro, a $10 million investment it announced last fall.

The company has begun hiring supervisors associated with the expansion as a prelude to adding 200 positions to its current roster of about 750 employees.

It expects to begin significant hiring in March and will be at full speed by summer.

Dulani said his boss in Germany is bullish on the company's future and would like to see the expanded plant operating immediately.

Source: bizjournals.com