Li xiaofei--FILE--A Chinese inspector examines solar panels at a rooftop photovoltaic power station in Tianjin, China, 13 May 2014.
The Commerce Department on Tuesday (3 June 2014) imposed steep duties on importers of Chinese solar panels made from certain components, asserting that the manufacturers had benefited from unfair subsidies. The duties will range from 18.56 to 35.21 percent, the department said. The decision, in a long-simmering trade dispute, addresses one of the main charges in a petition brought by the manufacturer SolarWorld Industries America. While it is preliminary, the ruling means that the United States will begin collecting the tariffs in advance of the final decision, expected later this year.
The solar industry is facing a looming shortage of photovoltaic panels, reversing a two-year slump triggered by a global glut.
