US commission votes to extend probe into alleged solar cells dumping

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to continue investigations into the import of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSP) cells from Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In a statement issued last Friday, the commission said there is "reasonable indication" that a US industry is materially injured by reason of imports of CSP cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from the mentioned countries.

According to the website of the US International Trade Administration, an American alliance of solar manufacturers filed the petition for the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into CSP cells in April.

It alleged that the CSP cells are sold in the US at less than fair value and subsidised by the countries' respective governments.

The website states that the alleged dumping margins for the four countries range between 70.36% to 271.28% (Malaysia at 81.22%) while the alleged subsidy rates are "above de minimis", which means they respectively exceed the 2% threshold for developing countries.

Following the USITC's determinations, the US Department of Commerce will continue its investigations into the imports of the CSP cells from the four countries.

The USITC said the preliminary countervailing duty determinations are due on or about July 18, 2024, and its preliminary anti-dumping duty determinations due on or about Oct 1, 2024.