Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels-Big Time

[Jason]

The decision that the solar industry has been waiting for was announced earlier today and it will not be an easy decision for the Chinese manufacturers to swallow. The Department of Commerce released a fact sheet summarizing the decision. In its dry language, "Commerce preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters sold solar cells in the United States at dumping margins ranging from 31.14 percent to 249.96 percent." Some of the best know solar manufacturers such as Suntech and Trina Solar received preliminary dumping margins of 31%. It is one of the largest anti-dumping decisions in American history, according to The New York Times. Many predict that it will raise the cost of solar panels across the board.

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[Mike90250]

Well, it's a little late for 4 US mfg's that have to comply with a boatload of enviromental regualtions.

[paulzubrinich]

China strikes back

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...les_100006951/

[Naptown]

SEIA speaks for the entire industry not just the manufacturing sector.
Imparting a tariff on imports will affect the industry in the whole not just the manufacturing end.
This will be a serious impediment on the industry as a whole. Considering that installation and BOS constitute the lion's share of the US solar dollar spent, raising the overall cost of modules will only serve to reduce the market. In this scenario everyone suffers not only the profit margin of a few manufacturers.
Has anyone done a study of the jobs in the US that are attributed to solar? With a breakdown on manufacturing of modules, Manufacturing of BOS components, installation, sales,service and ancillary occupations such as truck drivers to deliver components etc? I have not but my gut tells me that if all US solar manufacturing jobs were to be lost to China it would be less than 3% of the total number of those involved in the US solar industry. So this is in effect sacrificing the 97% to save the 3%. Corporate America at it's best.

[KRenn]

SEIA speaks for the entire industry not just the manufacturing sector.
Imparting a tariff on imports will affect the industry in the whole not just the manufacturing end.
This will be a serious impediment on the industry as a whole. Considering that installation and BOS constitute the lion's share of the US solar dollar spent, raising the overall cost of modules will only serve to reduce the market. In this scenario everyone suffers not only the profit margin of a few manufacturers.
Has anyone done a study of the jobs in the US that are attributed to solar? With a breakdown on manufacturing of modules, Manufacturing of BOS components, installation, sales,service and ancillary occupations such as truck drivers to deliver components etc? I have not but my gut tells me that if all US solar manufacturing jobs were to be lost to China it would be less than 3% of the total number of those involved in the US solar industry. So this is in effect sacrificing the 97% to save the 3%. Corporate America at it's best.

Its more or less a giant subsidy to Solarworld which was struggling to hack it previously. You'll see some increases on Chinese modules, and these same American companies will follow with increases of their own, whether justified or not which will slow down the growth of the industry but in a way it was also needed to ensure the survival of some of these companies who as Mike mentioned had to face the burden of actually living up to existing environmental standards rather than dumping toxic byproducts down the river.

[Skipper h]

My Thoughts

I went and purchased my last panel today (235 watt 24 volt BYD). The guy said he had to cancel his next orders because of the tariffs imposed on him. He said he will probably have to close up shop. I was there for about an hour in his office and the phone didn't ring once. He said his sales are down 60% so far and I didn't see as many employees there. I'm thinking it's going to hurt the industry real bad, with the reductions in rebates and tax benefits and now this. These are my thoughts and curious as to what others think. Thanks Skipper h

[russ]

The subsidy questions in the 3rd world are not often straight forward. Where I was in western India we had to -

1) Build part of the public highway to the site
2) Run HT power lines 30 km
3) Install our own captive power generation capacity - last I knew it was close to 2 gW part of which was sold to the grid
4) Build natural gas lines from the natural gas onshore terminal to our site
5) Build 50 km of water line 36'' plus pumping stations
6) Build our own port facilities
7) Build a township for employees to live in that included medical facilities, school, shopping etc
8) Maintain a fire station and equipment that would serve our own site plus assist neighboring plants

Keep all sorts of government types 'happy'

All that would have been provided by the state/utility in the US or Europe.

[Sunking]

I'm thinking it's going to hurt the industry real bad, with the reductions in rebates and tax benefits and now this. These are my thoughts and curious as to what others think. Thanks Skipper h

Well Skipper it will more than hurt the industry, it will wipe it out. That is what happens when you and I quit paying for others luxury's and it should happen.

[KRenn]

The whole solar industry continues to be in flux over these tariffs and Solarworld is showing no signs of slowing down whatsoever, now pursuing tariff's in Europe against Chinese panels.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/jefferies_offers_pros_and_cons_for_solarworlds_eu_trade_case_hopes

[russ]

The whole solar industry continues to be in flux over these tariffs and Solarworld is showing no signs of slowing down whatsoever, now pursuing tariff's in Europe against Chinese panels.

If they are depending on the EU it is an iffy thing for sure - for anyone that thinks the US gov is crazy at times the EU is 100 times more weird - can't have cameras in day care (for parents to check on the kids) due to 'kids rights'' and can't sell a slightly misshapen veggie - it can only be cattle food - plus a thousand equally crazy rules.