Australia Ends Investigation Into Alleged Dumping Of Chinese Solar PV Modules, Despite Comission Finding Evidence
Despite evidence uncovered by Australia’s anti-dumping commission suggesting that some Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) modules were being sold in the country at dumped prices, the commission has decided to terminate its investigation, according to recent reports.
Reportedly, the commission determined that the ‘injury’ caused by the Chinese actions was minimal, and therefore no recourse was necessary. Given the close relationship between higher-ups in Australia and China, though, I can’t help but wonder about the underlying reasons for the terminated investigation. Or, for that matter, the backroom conversations and talks that accompanied — which would probably be fascinating to hear.
As Australia and China seem likely to develop ever closer relations over the coming years, I’m certainly not surprised by the terminated investigation — but… the official reason sounds rather lame, doesn’t it? They could have come up with something better than “No harm done, don’t worry about it”, couldn’t they have?
Some background here — the investigation began as a result of the Australian company Tindo Solar filing a complaint last year. One which noted that the pricing used by the Chinese was harming the country’s solar PV manufacturers.
The investigation that resulted led to the determination that Trina Solar, Wuxi Suntech, ReneSola, and ET Solar were all engaged in dumping practices — at respective margins of 4%, 8.7%, 2.1%, and 3%.
The reasons for the termination — the ones given by the commission at any rate — are that the dumping margins were fairly limited, and that Tindo Solar (the instigator of the investigation) offers AC modules, rather than DC modules (like most of those being imported from China). These facts rendered the issue “negligible” according to those in the commission. As a result, no anti-dumping duties are now on the way.
Tindo Solar is currently assessing its options, and plans to pursue the issue further.
Image: Australia solar roofs via Shutterstock
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I the Ozzies don’t make solar panels, they probably don’t give a hoot about dumping. Oi Oi Oi
Well, I was worried that Tony’s cronies would sway the outcome of the Commission. While I did have confidence in their impartiality, and did not think they would pick a fight with China over nothing, which this was, the current Coalition government has shown no hesitation in interferring with things such as Human Rights Commisioners and engaging in short sighted politically motivated attacks on anyone and anything they don’t like. So I was worried we would have a sudden hike in the cost of solar panels for no good reason.
Fortunately, common sense won through, and Tony Abbott is crying over his bowl of milk covered coal. Or maybe he’s actually chortling while drawing up plans for a new set of concentration camps for rooftop solar owners. Lucky he discredited that Human Rights Commisioner, isn’t it?
Ozzies only have 60 Mgw Solar PV year production capacity.
Actually it’s zero PV production. The PV is imported from overseas and the modules assembled in the Tindo factory here in South Australia which employs 25 people. That’s not 25 factory workers, that’s 25 people altogether including sales and managers. So we were looking at a ridiculous situation where everyone in Australia might have had to pay more for solar panels to support a total of 25 jobs in, or related to, module assembly that used imported PV cells. Now don’t get me wrong, they make good modules, but to force millions of people pay more for clean electricity to protect the jobs of 25 people is insane.
Wow. Lol. What a world. Good that common sense broke through.
Yep, a 5% punitive tariff would mean we would be charging Australians about one million dollars a year per job being “protected” while stupidly annoying our largest trading partner. Obviously not an intelligent thing to do. You’d have to be a member of the Coal-ition to think it’s a good idea.
The US paid a lot more per person to save jobs for a Germany company. And of course cost a lot of installer jobs.
But we win the comedy gold for attempting to get punitive tariffs for a PV industry that produces no PV.
Did you know that American citizens pay
huge “tariffs” on Chinese solar panels (200+%) because:
American industrialists found it cheaper to bribe (lobbyists)
government officials to impose “so-called’ dumping tariffs than
to do as the Chinese have done: Invest heavily in totally automating
their factories, streamlining their production systems, spending on
research for faster, cheaper, better, SMARTer ways to compete on
world markets, spend money on scientists to make more efficient
product.