SolarWorld Industries America, the leader of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), has expressed its concern over the proposal from Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) regarding the settlement of the solar trade dispute between the U.S and China.
A statement from Gordon Brinser, the U.S. president of manufacturing for SolarWorld Industries America, said, “While we appreciate the efforts of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), we are highly skeptical of any settlement with China or Chinese companies given their history of predatory market and trade practices.”
Brinser expressed his concerns over Chinese companies using all means to circumvent the trade orders and avoid the lawful payment of antidumping and countervailing duties.
“These trade orders against China will be in place for years to come. We have no intention of giving them up unless and until China’s unfair trade practices are stopped,” Brinser said.
The Chinese government has responded by filing retaliatory cases against other U.S. industries such as polysilicon, just as it did in the solar trade cases in Europe. Retaliation is not a strategy that the U.S. government should condone.
Timothy C. Brightbill, counsel to SolarWorld, said, “We support the U.S. government’s efforts to negotiate a solution with China that addresses all of China’s continued dumping, subsidies, and unfair trade practices. However, SEIA’s proposal does not accomplish this goal.
“Fair trade requires that all parties play by the rules,” Brightbill said. “And we do not trust those who support illegal Chinese imports to negotiate an outcome that protects SolarWorld’s ability to enter its fourth decade of U.S. solar manufacturing.”