By Kari Williamson

In a statement, the USITC says: “There is a reasonable indication that a US industry is materially injured by reason of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules from China that are allegedly subsidised and sold in the United States at less than fair value.”

The determination was unanimous in the USITC.

The US Department of Commerce will, based on this determination, continue anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports.

The countervailing duty determination is due around 12 January and the preliminary anti-dumping duty determination is due around 22 March.

The report, Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells and Modules from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-481 and 731-TA-1190 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4295, December 2011), will be made available to the public after 3 January.

Background

SolarWorld, together with six other US-based silicon solar PV manufacturers, filed cases with the US Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission accusing Chinese solar cell and module manufacturers of illegal dumping in the US market.

Their case, although being contested by China, has gained support all the way up to President Obama.