China is requesting the US to repeal the duties it has set on imported Chinese solar panels, which are, according to a Ministry of Commerce spokesman, inciting trade friction in new energy and sending a negative signal to the whole world about protectionism, obstructing the development of new energy development.
China has called on the US to repeal duties set this week by the US Commerce Department on imported Chinese solar panels.
‘‘The United States is inciting trade friction in new energy and sending a negative signal to the whole world about protectionism and obstructing the development of new energy development,’’ a Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said in a statement.
He also said the US tariffs would damage global efforts to address climate change.
While Danyang did not say whether Beijing would retaliate, in July the Chinese government said it would open investigations into imported US and South Korean polycrystalline silicon PV.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to confirm or reject the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, ranging from about 15% to about 250% on imports of PV cells and panels from Suntech, Trina Solar and other Chinese producers, by 23 November.
If the ITC determines that Chinese solar cell imports do injure or threaten the US solar industry, the tariffs will go into effect.
Suntech has called the tariffs ‘destructive’ to the solar industry in the US and globally, while Trina Solar said it might appeal the final determinations.
“We highly value our US customers and business partners, and their loyal support throughout this process,” said Mark Mendenhall, president of Trina Solar Americas, in a statement. “We look forward to final resolution of this case and will continue to build strong relationships and to grow our North American business to meet our customers’ needs.”