US approves duties on China solar products

THE United States yesterday gave final approval to duties on billions of dollars of solar energy products from China for the next five years.

The US International Trade Commission voted 6-0 in favor of the duties in a case filed last year by SolarWorld Industries America and which China has called a protectionist move that threatens the future of the solar energy sector by driving up costs for consumers.

SolarWorld, the largest US solar panel manufacturer, accused Chinese competitors such as Suntech Power Holdings of selling solar cells and panels in the US at "unfairly low prices and receiving government subsidies."

Suntech, the world's largest solar panel producer, was hit with combined US Commerce Department duties of about 36 percent while another major Chinese manufacturer, Trina Solar, faces duties of about 23.75 percent.

More than a hundred other Chinese producers and exporters face combined duties of about 31 percent and still others combined duties of more than 250 percent.

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