Kaptur Applauds U.S. Findings of Chinese Solar Dumping, Calls for Imposition of TariffsPress ReleaseTradeJobs and the EconomyEnergy

Washington, D.C.- Today, Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Commerce's preliminary determination that companies in three Southeast Asian countries are undercutting the American solar industry by illegally circumventing trade protection orders.

Today, after a months-long investigation, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) announcedit had preliminarily determined that companies in three Southeast Asian countries are illegally circumventing U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CV) orders that protect the American solar industry against unfair trade practices.

Commerce's preliminary determination found that companies in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam are receiving solar cell and solar module products that are manufactured in China and then exporting them to the United States as if the products were their own - a strategy designed to bypass U.S. AD/CV duties on Chinese-manufactured solar products.

Commerce launched its investigation in March 2022 after being petitioned to do so by the American solar industry. In June, after Commerce began its investigation, the Biden Administration announced that in the event Commerce determined that AD/CV duties were being illegally circumvented, any resulting tariffs would be suspended for two years - a move strongly criticizedby Rep. Kaptur at the time.

While the determination announced today is only preliminary, Commerce is expected to issue a final determination in May 2023. If the findings are ultimately upheld, Commerce can then impose tariffs.

"China's finely-tuned efforts to weaken American industries and outsource American jobs are no secret - and they have particularly devastated Middle Class workers throughout the industrial heartland," said Rep. Kaptur. "With the evidence now painting a clearer picture of China's targeting of our domestic solar industry, the United States must be firm and forceful in its response. We cannot allow America's solar industry, and the thousands of workers at Ohio's hometown companies like First Solar and Toledo Solar, to continue being attacked. The United States must impose full tariffs on these Chinese solar products and protect American workers."

More information on the U.S. Department of Commerce's announcement can be found here.

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For more information, contact Chris Dalton at [email protected].