Tim Brightbill Comments on Solar Trade Cases Against China

Tim Brightbill, a partner in Wiley Rein's International Trade Practice, was quoted by Clean Technica for a major three part story on the antidumping and countervailing duties cases Wiley Rein LLP has filed on behalf of the U.S. solar industry against Chinese manufacturers of solar cells and panels.

The petitions Wiley Rein submitted are supported by the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) and senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (R-OR). They are among the largest trade cases of their type ever filed against China and are the first in the renewable-energy industries.

Mr. Brightbill told Clean Technica the individual governments that sign World Trade Organization (WTO) treaties agree to follow domestic laws. As a result, it is illegal when government subsidies damage the domestic industry of a WTO member.

Clean Technica goes on to report that, "The massive flood of cheap, Chinese, silicon-solar-PV panels, and an extraordinarily sharp, steep price drop is no coincidence, CASM and supporters assert. Nor has it been the result of market-driven demand. It's the result of China's centrally planned, coordinated, and controlled subsidy program, subsidies that violate international trade law, they say, a claim that the US ITC and Commerce Dept. are now investigating."

By mid February the ITC is expected to publish its estimation of Chinese subsidies and the potential penalties that would be imposed on Chinese imports.

To read the articles in Clean Technica's three part series, click here, here and here.