Solar trade dispute: U.S. agrees to consultation w/ Korea, EU, China, Malaysia & Thail - SolarStar

The U.S.  has responded to a request from the EU, China, Malaysia Thail to enter into joint consultations on the import tariffs for PV products.

At the end of January, U.S. President Donald Trump set tariffs of 30% for imports of PV products into the United States under Section 201. Monday’s WTO release shows that the Trump Administration has now accepted the request submitted to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) by the EU, China, Malaysia Thail, to join the consultations already underway with Korea.

Thail also submitted its own request to the WTO last Thursday, regarding the willingness of the United States to consult with those countries on the protectionist measures for the domestic solar industry. All of these nations are strongly affected as exporters.

In its letter, the Thai delegation argues that U.S. action was not in line with the GATT 1994 Safeguards Agreement. According to these rules, as an “exporter with a substantial interest”, Thail should have had an adequate opportunity for consultation before the import tariffs were issued.

At the end of January, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced Trump’s decision to introduce duties in the Section 201 petition. Tariffs will be applied to the import of solar cells modules into the country over the next four years.

These start at 30% will be progressively lowered to 15%. Solar cell imports totaling 2.5 GW per year are exempt from the duties.

As part of the announcement, the United States said it was ready to discuss long-term solutions with interested parties. Subsequently, several countries filed complaints with the WTO seeking an amicable solution to the safeguard duties, as did the European Union.

Section 301 

Most recently, a new round of IT-related tariffs could make it even more expensive for any manufacturers planning to import cells from China for module production in the U.S.

On June 15, the U.S. Trade Representative included a list of another 284 product lines to the 818 it has approved for duties under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The new products include solar cell module imports under 8541.40.60. This means that these cells modules are among the products that will go to review, if approved will be subject to 25% tariffs.