releases: http://nolan.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/nolan-urges-itc-to-close-trade-loophole-allowing-china-and-taiwan-to
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://nolan.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/nolan-urges-itc-to-close-trade-loophole-allowing-china-and-taiwan-to | Nolan Urges ITC to Close Trade Loophole Allowing China and Taiwan to Dump Solar Panels into the U.S. Market | 2014-12-15 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Rick Nolan | N000127 | nolan.house.gov | legacy | [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan Monday testified before the International Trade Commission (ITC) on behalf of the community of Mountain Iron, Mountain Iron, Minnesota company Silicon Energy and the solar panel manufacturing industry – urging the body to close a loophole in trade law that has spurred job losses in Minnesota and across the U.S. by allowing China and Taiwan to continue dumping cheap, unfairly traded solar panels into the U.S. marketplace. Despite earlier anti-dumping rulings by the ITC, the remaining loophole allows Chinese solar manufacturers to use Taiwanese cells in their products in order to circumvent U.S. trade duties. In 2013, U.S. imports of solar panels from China and Taiwan were valued at an estimated $1.5 billion and $656.8 million respectively. Nolan, a former president of the Minnesota World Trade Center Corporation with wide ranging background in global import and export trade, told the Commission, “U.S. innovation and efficiency started the world wide growth of solar, and will continue to fuel that growth so long as unfair trade practices are not allowed. But that is not what is happening in the solar manufacturing market in America.” “Instead, U.S. solar manufacturers have been devastated by China’s buildup of massive amounts of state-sponsored solar capacity. This had led to a surge of dumped and subsidized imports from China causing an unprecedented price collapse in the U.S. market and tremendous injury to U.S. producers.” Nolan’s testimony before the ITC Monday morning came on behalf of Silicon Energy, a solar panel producer with a manufacturing facility in Mountain Iron, MN. Silicon Energy is supporting an ongoing case brought by SolarWorld Industries America, Inc. to close the loophole and re-establish a level playing field for U.S. manufacturers who use American made cells in their solar products. Nolan told the ITC Commissioners that in addition to the jobs lost and put at risk at Silicon Energy in Mountain Iron, unfair trade practices by China and Taiwan have driven more than 20 U.S. solar companies out of business, into bankruptcy, or into significant layoffs. In lauding the Commission’s earlier rulings to curb subsidized solar imports from China and Taiwan, the Minnesota Congressman noted that the current case has given U.S. producers reason for optimism. “The U.S. market has stabilized, allowing U.S. solar manufacturers to increase sales and reclaim some market share. American companies and American workers are second to none when they’re allowed to operate in a fair and fully competitive marketplace.” But Nolan warned the Commission that if the China loophole is not eliminated, “the harm to the U.S. industry and its workers will continue and worsen.” The Commission is scheduled to announce its final decision on or about December 16, 2014. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |