US slaps trade duties up to 165% on Chinese solar firms

December 16, 2014
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The US Department of Commerce has made its final ruling in the China solar trade case, levying trade duty rates of up to 165% on some firms.

PV Tech understands that the following rates have been announced as part of the department's decision: 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Trina faces anti-dumping (AD) tariffs of 26.71% and anti-subsidy rates of 49.79%. Yingli faces 52.13% AD rate and the China wide anti-subsidy of 38.72%. The AD rate for companies not assigned an individual level of tariff will be 165.04%.

Taiwanese producers have been given an AD rate of 19.5% with the exceptions of Motech and Gintech who were assigned 11.45% and 27.55% respectively.

The wider scope for the case has also been adopted.

All eyes now turn to 20 January when the US International Trade Commission will decide if the industry suffered injury as a result of the actions of the Chinese firms. Without a positive decision, the new duties cannot be applied.

“These remedies come just in time to enable the domestic industry to return to conditions of fair trade,” said Mukesh Dulani, US president of SolarWorld. “The tariffs and scope set the stage for companies to create new jobs and build or expand factories on US soil,” he added.

Rhone Resch, CEO of the US Solar Energy Industries Association pledged to continue looking for a compromise deal.

“Unfortunately, today’s ill-advised and unprecedented decision will harm many and benefit few. We remain steadfast in our opposition because of the adverse impact punitive tariffs will have on the future progress of America’s solar energy industry. It’s time to end this costly dispute, and we’ll continue to do our part to help find a win-win solution.”

Jigar Shah, president of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, added that the ruling would have a negative effect on solar jobs within the US.

“Today’s decision by the US Department of Commerce to further tax solar panels from China, even those with key components made in the US, will undercut the growth of American solar jobs, hurt the American solar industry and make it more difficult for solar technology to compete against fossil fuels. These unnecessary taxes inhibit competition and put upward pressure on solar panel prices needed by US homeowners, installers, and utilities.Taxing solar trade undermines both the spirit and efficacy of pledges made by the US and China to work together in the battle against global warming. Hundreds of megawatts of solar projects remain unrealized due to deleterious solar trade barriers in the US, China, Europe and globally. Eliminating taxes in cleantech trade represents the lowest-hanging fruit in the global fight against climate change.”

Shah added: “After three years of unproductive trade wars, which have proliferated around the world, we urge the US and China to accelerate negotiations to preserve competition in the global solar industry. Affordable solar panels are a good thing for the US, China, and the world. As the world’s largest producers and consumers of energy, the US and China share a unique responsibility to lead constructive and productive trade relations in the global solar industry. We look forward to continued progress in the weeks ahead.”

US and Chinese trade officials are currently meeting in Chicago for an annual high-level conference.

Speaking to the press about the talks on Friday, US Trade Representative Michael Froman said: “We hope to continue to work with China on both the solar and the polysilicon issue to create a stable environment in which, our trade laws are being enforced, secondly that we are able to see the further deployment of clean technology to fight climate change, and thirdly, that we’re able to maintain world-class industries in both our countries to manufacture these important products.”

Read Next

February 2, 2026
Independent power producer (IPP) TerraForm Power has acquired a 1.56GW solar project in Lee County, Illinois from Hexagon Energy.
February 2, 2026
Private equity firm Younan Company has launched an 880MW solar-plus-storage project in California, marking its entry into utility-scale solar PV in the US.
February 2, 2026
The price of solar PPAs signed in North America increased 3.2% between the third and fourth quarters of 2025, reaching a high of US$61.67/MWh.
February 2, 2026
The rate of installation of new self-consumption PV systems in Spain fell slightly last year, according to data from trade body the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF).
February 2, 2026
India’s Union Budget 2026-27 reinforces government support for renewables through duty exemptions and infrastructure spending.
Premium
February 2, 2026
PV Tech Premium explores the impacts that the EU's revised cybersecurity review will have on the continent's solar industry.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Upcoming Webinars
February 18, 2026
9am PST / 5pm GMT
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA