Solar Manufacturers Group Presses for U.S.-China Dialogue to Avert 'Trade War'
The U.S. and Chinese governments should begin a constructive dialogue to "avert a destructive global trade war" in the solar industry, said the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, a manufacturers group. Chinese and Indian companies are seeking anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations against companies entering their markets from the U.S. and other countries.
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"Unless cooler heads prevail, American solar companies could face even more direct and collateral damage than the 30% tax imposed on many of them last month," said CASE President Jigar Shah. "Already polysilicon companies in China are seeking retaliatory tariffs against U.S. polysilicon manufacturers."
US solar energy materials suppliers DuPont and Dow Corning, who are not CASE members, also backed free global trade. DuPont Electronics and Communications President David Miller said "a well-developed global supply chain has helped the production of PV panels to reach significant efficiency and economics of scale, bringing quality and durability up and prices down. This is good for global consumers, and good for the expansion of solar energy, creating jobs in the materials supply chain, much of it based here in the U.S. ... It is important that trade be both free and fair, and important that countries resolve any trade disputes in ways that minimize disruptions in this important PV supply chain." Dow Corning CEO Robert Hansen said the benefits of solar are so large that "there are opportunities for all countries to benefit significantly. Trade discussions in fast-growth, new technology industries like solar, which also offer a tremendous amount of social benefit to the world, are best served by government and business leaders collaborating to develop free, fair and constructive trade policies."