China calls on US to rescind solar-cell duties

Beijing on Thursday urged the United States to rescind hefty anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on China's solar-cell makers amid an intensifying row in the sector dominated by Chinese companies. The US Commerce Department on Wednesday issued a final confirmation of its May finding that Chinese producers and exporters had been selling solar cells into the United States at artificially low prices, and put the anti-dumping duties at between 18 percent and 250 percent. Meanwhile, it put countervailing duty levels, originally set in March to offset China's subsidies, at 15-16 percent, mainly to counter an "export buyer's credit" from the Chinese government. China's Commerce Ministry expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the US decision and said it hoped Washington would "amend its mistaken ways" and terminate the duties "as soon as possible". The US Commerce Department measures must still be confirmed by the US International Trade Commission, which is expected to rule by November 23. US rivals say state subsidies have helped Chinese exporters to dominate the market for the products. The US named Suntech Power, the world's largest maker of solar cells, and another large producer, Trina Solar, as key offenders, but said at least 60 other Chinese companies would also be hit with anti-dumping charges. China on July 20 launched its own investigation into alleged US subsidies for and dumping of a kind of polysilicon used to produce solar batteries, in apparent retaliation for the US findings.