Chinese-Manufactured Solar Panels
U.S. solar panel manufacturers worry that the subsidized Chinese panels are impossible to compete with on price, and that they will lose out on many green energy infrastructure projects across the United States. An investigation into Chinese solar panel production is currently underway.
As of March 20, 2012, crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (like those used to manufacture solar energy panels you might see atop buildings) produced in China have been considered in a preliminary determination by the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Administration (ITA) to be subject to countervailing duty (CVD).
According to the ITA’s fact sheet on their preliminary findings,
“Subject merchandise may be described at the time of importation as parts for final finished products that are assembled after importation, including, but not limited to, modules, laminates, panels, building-integrated modules, building-integrated panels, or other finished goods kits” (ITA).
Trade relationships are already somewhat stressed between the United States and China, and the preliminary determination in this investigation is not going to smooth things over. The DOC’s final determination is expected by June 4th 2012—the International Trade Administration’s final determination will follow on July 19th if the DOC’s ruling is affirmative.
U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement
May 2012 marked another shake-up in the U.S. Trade paradigm, as the Department of Commerce rolled out the U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement on the 15th. This agreement essentially re-classifies about 80 percent of US-Columbia exports as duty-free, and lowers the average duty rate on all U.S. exports to Columbia from 10.8 percent to 4 percent.
Agreements like the recent U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement are chipping away at the current U.S. export deficit, which has become an essential economic priority. Now U.S. manufacturers will be able to export their goods to Columbia, the third-largest economy in South America.
The business sectors that will be most affected by this new agreement are Chemicals, Infrastructure and Machinery, Metals and Ores, and Consumer Goods. All of this information is outlined in more detail in the ITA’s fact sheet regarding the agreement.
Anyone interested in finding out if and when their goods turn duty-free in Columbia can take advantage of the FTA’s Tariff Tool.
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ReplyDelete[...] (solar) panels and components, which has been covered in more depth in our recent article, “Global Trade Trends.” Though these are two fairly common scenarios, there are still other reasons an importer may [...]
ReplyDelete[...] Because solar energy and the products that make it possible have become such a cash-flushed industry, there have been many questions raised as to the fairness of the international solar market. China and the United States have most notably battled in this arena. The U.S. Department of Commerce has determined that the Chinese solar industry is unfairly supplemented by the Chinese government—an allegation they vehemently deny. The two countries continue to spar over commerce, and tensions do not appear as though they will cool down any time soon. For more background on the U.S./Chinese solar panel row, read the related section on Global Trade Trends Vol 1. [...]
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