Business Club November 11 News US time on November 9 at noon, the US Department of Commerce announced the implementation of China's PV products dumping, countervailing investigations and filings, than originally scheduled for Nov. 8 sentencing delayed. Although China's PV companies have made corresponding preparations, they received a notice on the morning of the 10th and felt a little sudden.
Wang Zhenjun, deputy general manager of Sunpower Solar Power Co., Ltd., told the China Enterprise News reporter that everyone thought it would be possible to know the outcome of the case on November 8. However, he did not wait until he said, “I think it may be delayed for 20 days,†but it suddenly ended in the morning. The notice of filing was up.
Both Chinese and American companies will suffer "If they do not cooperate with the survey, the final result will be a punitive national tax rate for China's photovoltaic export companies." Zhao Yonghong, secretary general of the Hangzhou Photovoltaic Industry Association, told the China Enterprise News reporter .
The United States Solar Manufacturing Alliance submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission on October 19, requesting the launch of countervailing and anti-dumping investigations on solar cells from China.
The application claimed that Chinese manufacturers dumped solar panels in the United States market, dumping more than 100%, while Chinese solar product manufacturers received substantial subsidies from the Chinese government. The United States Department of Commerce is requested to impose tariffs on solar cells and components in China in order to offset the unfair pricing and substantial subsidies.
If the case is established, it means that China's solar photovoltaic products will face a 100% tariff, and China will double the price of the batteries and components sold to the United States.
Li Junfeng, chairman of the Renewable Energy Professional Committee of the China Resources Comprehensive Utilization Association, said in an interview with a reporter from the China Enterprise News that there are also great controversies among various US interests. This is a survey that a few companies have put forward and does not represent all photovoltaic companies. In fact, it is damaging the interests of more American companies.
It is understood that the US solar energy application alliance that was submitted for this application was formed by the German company Solar-World, the largest traditional crystalline silicon technology manufacturer in the United States, and the branch company in the United States, together with 6 other American crystalline silicon cell and module manufacturers. of. Except for SolarWorld, the other six companies filed an anonymous double-survey application.
In fact, the U.S. industry associations do not support the "dual opposition" case. Li Junfeng told reporters
"This time the 'double reverse' investigation is different from the previous 'double reverse' case, and many local companies have come forward." "This is unprecedented. Because the filing of the case not only undermines the interests of Chinese companies, U.S. companies and U.S. investors The benefits are also compromised."
Chinese companies hold a group to cope with. On November 4th, 17 photovoltaic companies in Zhejiang Province sat down together because of the "double opposition". Everyone unanimously stated that Zhejiang businessmen must hold together to resist risks.
“This is not a matter for any company. It should be said that it is a problem for the entire industry. Therefore, everyone should unite. At present, all companies are responding positively. It can be seen that Chinese companies are still united.†Wang Zhenjun called for a wide range of companies to unite. Get up and respond positively.
Wang Zhenjun said: "The company has not sold below the cost price. China's photovoltaic companies are mainly private enterprises, and product prices are the result of full competition."
The development of China's photovoltaic industry has so far occupied about 3/5 of the world's production capacity. Under the circumstances of the sluggish EU market, under the strong promotion of the U.S. government, the U.S. photovoltaic market has achieved rapid development and has become a major global emerging market for Chinese PV companies to enter. In 2010, the United States ranked fifth in the world for new PV installations. Since this year, the number of installed solar installations in the United States has exceeded twice the amount of new installations in 2010. Therefore, the US photovoltaic market is an important battleground for overseas PV market expansion in China.
The survey shows that China’s market share in the United States has grown from 8% in 2008 to 45% today. From January to August this year, China’s crystalline silicon solar cells exported US$1.6 billion in the United States, which has exceeded the export value of US$1.2 billion in the past year. In July of this year, the United States imported solar panels from China. More than the sum of imports last year. In the second quarter of this year, about 50% of solar panels installed in the United States have been installed in China.
"Acquisition of 100% or 10% tariffs will cause Chinese companies to fall into extreme difficulties." Li Junfeng bluntly said.
“We recommend that all enterprises involved in Zhejiang Province take the initiative to respond if they do not plan to abandon the US market in recent years, apply for an average tax rate in the form of a cooperative enterprise, and gain an opportunity in future exports to the United States,†said Zhao Yonghong. Otherwise, companies will not be able to enter the U.S. market and lose market opportunities in the coming years due to punitive high tax rates.
“Now, what companies need to do immediately is to submit a quantitative amount questionnaire and a separate tax rate application within the prescribed time limit.†Li Fazheng, a lawyer at Beijing Office of Jinchengcheng Law Firm, said that the previous item must be handed in before November 29, the latter provision The time is submitted within 60 days after filing.
The need for strong government support Although China’s photovoltaic industry and industry associations oppose the US government’s growing voice of “double counter†investigations of Chinese PV companies, the steps are increasingly uniform, but these actions do not appear to be able to stop the US Department of Commerce from targeting China's PV companies' "double reverse" case. "It is already expected that the case will be filed."
Li Junfeng said that the United States has a very low threshold for the filing of anti-subsidy lawsuits, and the number of lawsuit companies or production that exceeds 1/4 of the total domestic amount can be filed. The double counter-accusation uses US domestic laws and is different from the 301 investigation. Therefore, trade disputes will not be solved through the WTO. Since the United States and Europe do not recognize the status of China's market state, Chinese companies are often at a disadvantage when confronted with double counterattacks and are not successful.
Zhao Yonghong told reporters that this process will have a major impact on China's PV companies, from the filing of the case, the investigation to the final settlement.
After submitting the relevant materials, the U.S. Department of Commerce will take samples from it and conduct further investigations on the production and sales of the extracted companies. The general situation takes about 1 year.
If a company does not export products related to the United States during the investigation of anti-dumping cases, and the enterprise can wait until the final findings of investigation (appearing around the end of 2012), then consider the review of new exporters. The review will take place at the end of 2013, that is, the final discretion. A year later, the results of the review will be released around the beginning of 2015, two years after the final cut. “For this reason, we recommend that companies carefully review the company's product exports to avoid accidental omissions that cause the company to withstand high tax rates in the next few years.†Zhao Yonghong said.
As a strategic emerging industry, with the strong support of the country, the photovoltaic industry has developed rapidly in recent years. Li Shengmao, a senior research fellow at China Investment Advisors, told the China Enterprise News reporter that “under the protection of the government, the photovoltaic industry can maintain the momentum of rapid development and achieve great development.†He believes that the government has the right to act, China The development of the photovoltaic industry is conducted in accordance with market rules. "Said China's photovoltaic products prices are relatively low, reflecting the relatively strong cost control capabilities of Chinese enterprises." At the same time, the government's subsidies are also fully in line with the requirements of the WTO.
Relevant people suggested that after China's PV industry has experienced “double reverse†investigations, it will inevitably create a market structure in which the survival of the fittest and the fittest will disappear. The entire export-oriented market will inevitably change. This is also a good time for China's PV companies to transfer their strategies.
According to relevant sources, the Ministry of Commerce has already started preliminary preparations and will start responding measures in due course.
Wang Zhenjun, deputy general manager of Sunpower Solar Power Co., Ltd., told the China Enterprise News reporter that everyone thought it would be possible to know the outcome of the case on November 8. However, he did not wait until he said, “I think it may be delayed for 20 days,†but it suddenly ended in the morning. The notice of filing was up.
Both Chinese and American companies will suffer "If they do not cooperate with the survey, the final result will be a punitive national tax rate for China's photovoltaic export companies." Zhao Yonghong, secretary general of the Hangzhou Photovoltaic Industry Association, told the China Enterprise News reporter .
The United States Solar Manufacturing Alliance submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission on October 19, requesting the launch of countervailing and anti-dumping investigations on solar cells from China.
The application claimed that Chinese manufacturers dumped solar panels in the United States market, dumping more than 100%, while Chinese solar product manufacturers received substantial subsidies from the Chinese government. The United States Department of Commerce is requested to impose tariffs on solar cells and components in China in order to offset the unfair pricing and substantial subsidies.
If the case is established, it means that China's solar photovoltaic products will face a 100% tariff, and China will double the price of the batteries and components sold to the United States.
Li Junfeng, chairman of the Renewable Energy Professional Committee of the China Resources Comprehensive Utilization Association, said in an interview with a reporter from the China Enterprise News that there are also great controversies among various US interests. This is a survey that a few companies have put forward and does not represent all photovoltaic companies. In fact, it is damaging the interests of more American companies.
It is understood that the US solar energy application alliance that was submitted for this application was formed by the German company Solar-World, the largest traditional crystalline silicon technology manufacturer in the United States, and the branch company in the United States, together with 6 other American crystalline silicon cell and module manufacturers. of. Except for SolarWorld, the other six companies filed an anonymous double-survey application.
In fact, the U.S. industry associations do not support the "dual opposition" case. Li Junfeng told reporters
"This time the 'double reverse' investigation is different from the previous 'double reverse' case, and many local companies have come forward." "This is unprecedented. Because the filing of the case not only undermines the interests of Chinese companies, U.S. companies and U.S. investors The benefits are also compromised."
Chinese companies hold a group to cope with. On November 4th, 17 photovoltaic companies in Zhejiang Province sat down together because of the "double opposition". Everyone unanimously stated that Zhejiang businessmen must hold together to resist risks.
“This is not a matter for any company. It should be said that it is a problem for the entire industry. Therefore, everyone should unite. At present, all companies are responding positively. It can be seen that Chinese companies are still united.†Wang Zhenjun called for a wide range of companies to unite. Get up and respond positively.
Wang Zhenjun said: "The company has not sold below the cost price. China's photovoltaic companies are mainly private enterprises, and product prices are the result of full competition."
The development of China's photovoltaic industry has so far occupied about 3/5 of the world's production capacity. Under the circumstances of the sluggish EU market, under the strong promotion of the U.S. government, the U.S. photovoltaic market has achieved rapid development and has become a major global emerging market for Chinese PV companies to enter. In 2010, the United States ranked fifth in the world for new PV installations. Since this year, the number of installed solar installations in the United States has exceeded twice the amount of new installations in 2010. Therefore, the US photovoltaic market is an important battleground for overseas PV market expansion in China.
The survey shows that China’s market share in the United States has grown from 8% in 2008 to 45% today. From January to August this year, China’s crystalline silicon solar cells exported US$1.6 billion in the United States, which has exceeded the export value of US$1.2 billion in the past year. In July of this year, the United States imported solar panels from China. More than the sum of imports last year. In the second quarter of this year, about 50% of solar panels installed in the United States have been installed in China.
"Acquisition of 100% or 10% tariffs will cause Chinese companies to fall into extreme difficulties." Li Junfeng bluntly said.
“We recommend that all enterprises involved in Zhejiang Province take the initiative to respond if they do not plan to abandon the US market in recent years, apply for an average tax rate in the form of a cooperative enterprise, and gain an opportunity in future exports to the United States,†said Zhao Yonghong. Otherwise, companies will not be able to enter the U.S. market and lose market opportunities in the coming years due to punitive high tax rates.
“Now, what companies need to do immediately is to submit a quantitative amount questionnaire and a separate tax rate application within the prescribed time limit.†Li Fazheng, a lawyer at Beijing Office of Jinchengcheng Law Firm, said that the previous item must be handed in before November 29, the latter provision The time is submitted within 60 days after filing.
The need for strong government support Although China’s photovoltaic industry and industry associations oppose the US government’s growing voice of “double counter†investigations of Chinese PV companies, the steps are increasingly uniform, but these actions do not appear to be able to stop the US Department of Commerce from targeting China's PV companies' "double reverse" case. "It is already expected that the case will be filed."
Li Junfeng said that the United States has a very low threshold for the filing of anti-subsidy lawsuits, and the number of lawsuit companies or production that exceeds 1/4 of the total domestic amount can be filed. The double counter-accusation uses US domestic laws and is different from the 301 investigation. Therefore, trade disputes will not be solved through the WTO. Since the United States and Europe do not recognize the status of China's market state, Chinese companies are often at a disadvantage when confronted with double counterattacks and are not successful.
Zhao Yonghong told reporters that this process will have a major impact on China's PV companies, from the filing of the case, the investigation to the final settlement.
After submitting the relevant materials, the U.S. Department of Commerce will take samples from it and conduct further investigations on the production and sales of the extracted companies. The general situation takes about 1 year.
If a company does not export products related to the United States during the investigation of anti-dumping cases, and the enterprise can wait until the final findings of investigation (appearing around the end of 2012), then consider the review of new exporters. The review will take place at the end of 2013, that is, the final discretion. A year later, the results of the review will be released around the beginning of 2015, two years after the final cut. “For this reason, we recommend that companies carefully review the company's product exports to avoid accidental omissions that cause the company to withstand high tax rates in the next few years.†Zhao Yonghong said.
As a strategic emerging industry, with the strong support of the country, the photovoltaic industry has developed rapidly in recent years. Li Shengmao, a senior research fellow at China Investment Advisors, told the China Enterprise News reporter that “under the protection of the government, the photovoltaic industry can maintain the momentum of rapid development and achieve great development.†He believes that the government has the right to act, China The development of the photovoltaic industry is conducted in accordance with market rules. "Said China's photovoltaic products prices are relatively low, reflecting the relatively strong cost control capabilities of Chinese enterprises." At the same time, the government's subsidies are also fully in line with the requirements of the WTO.
Relevant people suggested that after China's PV industry has experienced “double reverse†investigations, it will inevitably create a market structure in which the survival of the fittest and the fittest will disappear. The entire export-oriented market will inevitably change. This is also a good time for China's PV companies to transfer their strategies.
According to relevant sources, the Ministry of Commerce has already started preliminary preparations and will start responding measures in due course.