US Cuts Duty Tariffs On Taiwanese Solar Cells & Modules
The US Department of Commerce has decided to back off its previously rather harsh “anti-dumping” duties for solar products made in Taiwan, according to recent reports.
Humorously, the readjustment is supposedly because the previous levels were due to a “ministerial error” and this is simply a “correction.” Not sure that I buy that, but OK.
The adjustments vary amongst the different manufacturers — Motech will see the duty levels that it is subject to halved, while most others will see a significant reduction, but one that remains below 50%.
PV Magazine provides more:
According to a document obtained by PV Magazine, upon publication in the federal register anti-dumping duty levels for Motech will be reduced from 44.18% to 20.86%. Gintech’s tariff rate will remain the same at 27.59%, but all other Taiwanese PV makers including market leader Neo Solar Power will see duty rates fall from 35.89% to 24.23%.
GTM Research Lead Upstream Analyst Shyam Mehta says that while this change will make it easier for Motech to use its own cells in modules manufactured in third-party nations and shipped to the United States, he does not expect a return to Taiwan shipping cells to China for use in US-bound modules.
“Most Chinese manufacturers have pretty much shifted to the strategy of using all Chinese product, and then paying the 2012 cell tariff, which was round 31%,” Mehta continues. “That still results in a lower cost for the Chinese and makes a lower price point feasible.”
The document reportedly also makes mention of the “fact” that ministerial errors were present in documents submitted by Motech, SolarWorld, and Chinese PV maker tenKsolar. It’s these “errors” that are responsible for the too high tariff rates according to the US Department of Commerce.
“This is still very much a fluid conversation, and we are in the middle of it,” comments Motech Americas Senior Sales Manager Dave Holleran.
Hmm.
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