Canada advances solar anti-dumping case

04/02/2015 12:00 - 562 Views

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has found evidence of dumping and subsidies in Chinese crystalline and thin-film solar panels and components imported into the country.

On Tuesday the body issued the results of its preliminary inquiry, which was triggered by a complaint in December 2014 by four Ontario-based manufacturers, namely Eclipsall Energy Corporation, Heliene, Silfab Ontario and Solgate. CIGS, CdTe and a-Si technologies are all mentioned by name.

The complaint also covers solar-powered appliances.

CITT only had to determine if the evidence presented amounted to a “reasonable indication” that the dumping and subsidies caused injury or even threatened to cause injury to domestic firms.

The complaint alleges that in 2011 Chinese exporterss shipped 191MW of products into Canada with a value of US$270 million. This figure falls to 58MW in 2012 and 25MW in 2013. The 2014 figure was also expected to fall as domestic content requirement rules remained in place for Ontario’s successful feed-in tariff (FiT) programme.

The timing of the complaint could be an effort to prevent Chinese firms from seizing the market once the DCR restrictions are lifted. The initial 60% DCR rule was cut to 22% for crystalline panels and 28% for thin-film before a decision to remove it entirely in December 2013.

Local press reported that a preliminary ruling on dumping and subsidies would be issued by the tribunal 5 March.

Source: pv-tech.org