SMA Lends Support to Solar Industry Trade Case

Solar manufacturers are hoping for a positive determination in a Section 201 trade case that claims U.S. manufacturers are harmed by global overcapacity and the import of cheap solar modules from China. They are now getting support from the steel industry in the form of a letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission from the Steel Manufacturers Association. Washington-based SMA represents EAF steel producers.

The Section 201 safeguard investigation was launched in May seeking new global tariffs and minimum prices on all imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells and modules imported into the U.S. Solar producers Suniva and co-petitioner SolarWorld Americas propose an import tariff of $0.40/W per CSPV cell and a minimum import price of $0.78/W per CSPV module (inclusive of the $0.40/W cell tariff).