China condemns US ruling on China-made solar cells

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Commerce on Thursday voiced strong dissatisfaction with the United States's affirmative final determinations on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China, saying the decision "signals protectionism" and "hinders the development of new energy."

MOC spokesman Shen Danyang said the US Commerce Department ignores reasonings from the Chinese government and enterprises and imposes unfair duties on China-made solar cells.

Shen's remarks came after the US Commerce Department announced that Chinese producers and exporters have sold solar cells in the US market at dumping margins ranging from 18.32 percent to 249.96 percent.

The department also set final countervailing duties of 14.78 to 15.97 percent on China-made cells.

"The US decision runs counter to global efforts to jointly combat the challenges of climate change and energy security, and it breaks the country's promise to not take fresh protectionism measures, which was made at the G20 summit," Shen said.

He urged the United States to halt the trade remedies in order to encourage communication and cooperation in the industry to push forward the development of new energy.

US imports of solar cells from China were valued at an estimated $3.1 billion in 2011, according to the US Commerce Department.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its final determination on or before Nov 23.

If the result affirms that these products incur material injury or threat to US industry, the country's Commerce Department will issue the anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty orders. If the ITC makes a negative determination, the investigations will be terminated.

Clashes over China-made products arose last year when a group of panel manufacturers in the United States, led by Solar World Industries America Inc., filed a formal complaint to the US Commerce Department, saying China-made panels were being sold at extremely low prices on hefty government subsidies, while the Chinese makers said their commercial success has resulted from fair competition.