Yingli and Hanwha SolarOne, two of the Chinese first-tier PV manufacturers, introduced themselves as Taiwanese PV manufacturers’ respondents against the new anti-dumping and countervailing investigation during the Chinese New Year. This drove Taiwan Photovoltaic Industry Association (TPVIA) to ask Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) for further help so that they can raise their own defense.
After hearing TPVIA’s petition, BOFT promised to communicate with the U.S. government through official diplomatic process. Sam Hong, the Chairman of TPIVA, who is also the President and CEO at Neo Solar Power Corp., said that the average price of Taiwan-made PV cells is 8% higher than the global price, 11% higher than the ASP in China, an evidence of no dumping from Taiwan. “If Chinese companies raise their defense for Taiwan on the basis of their own interests, they may not make any emphasis on Taiwanese makers’ benefit,” said Hong. “As a result, we hope these two companies not to defense for Taiwanese manufacturers.”
SolarWorld raised the second “anti-dumping and countervailing” petition against Chinese PV products exported to the U.S. in the end of 2013, accusing that some Chinese factories purchases PV cells / modules from other countries, like Taiwan, to prevent themselves from being charged related duties, which has been ruled after the first anti-dumping and countervailing debate. On January 24th, ITC decided to launch the new investigation in response to SolarWorld’s petition.
According to the schedule, ITC will have an initial conclusion on this new petition against both Chinese and Taiwanese PV makers. Involved PV manufacturers have to hand in documents at February 19th and the respondents will be selected around February 21st.
