Solar PV field has potential for both sides: expert
Anti-dumping duties imposed by the U.S. government on Chinese products are on the rise, but expert said that bilateral cooperation in the photovoltaic (PV) industry is promising, as solar products contribute significantly to the global environmental protection agenda.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has decided over the past two months to levy anti-dumping duties ranged from 6.12 percent to 12.19 percent and countervailing duties of 19.2 percent on PV products from China, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Tuesday.
"It's so disappointing to see the U.S. government impose anti-dumping and [countervailing] measures on Chinese PV products, which has seriously disrupted the development of the global industry chain," Shen Danyang, spokesman of the MOFCOM, told a press briefing.
In July, the U.S. announced two trade investigation cases against Chinese products.
The U.S. challenged China's export duties on nine minerals on July 13, saying that they violate WTO rules and give Chinese manufacturers privileged treatment. This was followed by an announcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce on July 20, which said it will charge duties on washing machines manufactured in China by Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Co.
In terms of the anti-dumping cases against China, U.S. ranked first with 18 in the first half of 2016, according to a statement on the MOFCOM's website on July 26.
A sluggish global economy and the upcoming U.S. presidential election are the main causes of the rise of trade protectionism, Zhao Xijun, deputy director of the Finance and Securities Research Institute at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
But there is a great potential for the two countries to cooperate in the PV industry, Zhao said, noting that China possesses advantages in productivity and the U.S. has advanced technology. These advantages don't overlap.
PV products are regarded as a source of clean energy and are quite effectively in eliminating pollution, Shen said at the press briefing.
"In this respect, China still hopes to enhance dialogue and consultation with relevant countries, including the U.S., to cooperate with industries to solve trade friction," Shen noted.
