CBS Evening News Interviews Tim Brightbill and Profiles Solar Trade Case Against China

Tim Brightbill, a partner in Wiley Rein's International Trade Practice, was interviewed by CBS Evening News for a story on Wiley Rein's representation of a group of U.S. solar companies that are working to expand domestic green technology use and address the problem of dumped and subsidized Chinese imports harming the domestic industry.

CBS News reported that the "recent visit by China's Vice President Xi Jinping highlighted the many inequities in international trade resulting from cheap manufacturing there." The report added that in 2010 and 2011, at least a dozen U.S. solar manufacturers went bankrupt, shut down or downsized. SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar panel maker closed a manufacturing facility in California due to Chinese competition, putting roughly 100 Americans out of work

"Just a few years ago, Chinese products were less than 10 percent of the U.S. market," said Mr. Brightbill. "Today they average about half of the U.S. market."

The U.S. solar industry has pointed out that domestic companies are being harmed because China's government uses cash grants, discounts and tax incentives to boost the export of solar cells and modules. "The Department of Commerce estimates that China grants more than $30 billion in subsidies to its industries," said Mr. Brightbill.

CBS News reported that a decision from the Commerce Department on whether to enact tariffs on Chinese solar cells and panels is expected later this year.

The CBS News report can be watched here.