China expresses concern over US solar panel probe

Updated: 2011-11-10 13:29

(Xinhua)

  Comments() Print Mail Large Medium  Small 分享按钮 0

BEIJING - The Ministry of Commerce on Thursday expressed concern over the United States'anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe into Chinese exports of solar panels.

Chinese people and enterprises are strongly displeased with the US's attempts to blame Chinese exports for its own sluggish development, said Shen Danyang, a spokesman for the ministry, in a statement on the ministry's website.

Shen warned in the statement that the probe could damage energy cooperation between the two countries and impede the progress of global efforts to deal with climate change.

China retains the right to adopt corresponding measures within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Shen said.

The US Department of Commerce said Wednesday that it will conduct an investigation to determine whether Chinese companies have been selling solar panels in the United States at unfair discounts and receiving illegal government subsidies.

The US probe would not only hurt Chinese solar panel enterprises, but also hamper US exports to China, said Zhan Jie, a new energy analyst with Huachuang Securities.

Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers rely heavily on imports of equipment, technologies and key materials for solar panel production.

Zhan said the pricing of Chinese solar panels was in line with global standards and prices of panels sold in the US were determined by the market.

In 2011, global demand for photovoltage was expected to reach 22 gigawatts, but 30 gigawatts have already been generated -- inevitably drawing down prices, according to Huachuang Securities.

According to Zhan, the US anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation was just a means of trade protectionism seeking to curtail market shares of Chinese solar panel manufacturers.

Early last month, Trina Solar Limited, a leading Chinese solar panel producer, said the company believed the allegations made by the US petitioners will eventually prove to be unfounded and that its transactions with US customers were in accordance with international trade practices.