U.S. Wind-Tower Companies Seek Duties Against China, Vietnam

01/01/2012 12:00 - 393 Views

Wind-tower companies petitioned the U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission to place antidumping duties against Chinese and Vietnamese imports, according to an attorney for the American producers.

Companies backing the complaint include Broadwind Energy Inc. (BWEN) and Otter Tail Corp. (OTTR)’s DMI Industries, Alan Price, an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington representing the Wind Tower Trade Coalition, said today in an interview.

The firm also represents the U.S. unit of SolarWorld AG in a pending complaint on imports of Chinese solar panels. The new petition, on metal towers that hold turbines aloft at wind farms, expands an international dispute over the proper use of subsidies for alternative-energy industries.

“The Chinese and Vietnamese industries are using unfair pricing practices to capture critical sales from the U.S. industry,” Price said in an e-mailed statement.

The trade commission took the first step toward adding tariffs on Chinese solar imports on Dec. 2, saying subsidies for the products harm equipment makers such as Bonn-based SolarWorld AG. (SWV).

By Eric Martin

Source: Bloomberg.com