Associated Press
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commerce Department has imposed new import fees on solar panels made in China, finding that the Chinese government is improperly giving subsidies to manufacturers of the panels.
The department said Tuesday it has preliminarily found that Chinese solar panel makers have received government subsidies of 2.9 percent to 4.7 percent. Therefore, the department said tariffs in the same proportions will be charged on Chinese panels imported into the U.S., depending on which company makes them.
U.S. energy officials say China spent more than $30 billion last year subsidizing its solar industry.
The tariff amounts are considered small, but the decision could raise trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Several U.S. solar panel makers had asked the government to impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports, which they struggle against as demand weakens in Europe ...