CASM Statement on New Research Report on U.S. Solar Market

The IMS study notes that demand for solar in the U.S. market grew 120 percent through the end of June, compared with the same period in 2011.

Washington, D.C., Aug. 27, 2012 – The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) today issued the following statement, attributable to Gordon Brinser, president of Oregon-based SolarWorld Industries America Inc.:


"The new report by IMS Research effectively debunks two of the arguments made by Chinese solar manufacturers and their allies regarding the potential impact of tariffs on the U.S. solar market. First, preliminary tariffs did not slow growth of the U.S. solar market in the first half of 2012. Second, they have not had hurt downstream employment.

"The IMS study notes that demand for solar in the U.S. market grew 120 percent through the end of June, compared with the same period in 2011, and did ‘not show any significant slowdown resulting from the anti-dumping duties.' This statement undercuts claims that dumped Chinese panels helped ignite a boom in the U.S. solar market. The fact that demand increased 120 percent – a significantly higher level than in past years, despite significantly reduced Chinese imports over the past three months – shows that there is significant demand for solar, even without dumped and subsidized Chinese products.

"At the same time, the 35 percent increase in installations of solar panels cited in the IMS study shows there has been no negative impact on solar employment in the United States. This result undermines the opposition's prediction of tens of thousands of lost jobs if tariffs were imposed to counter the impact of illegally dumped and subsidized Chinese panels.

"Based on what we are seeing in the marketplace, the U.S. solar market is robust, despite challenges for producers. However, as the Associated Press pointed out, the challenge is greatest for Chinese solar producers who have racked up huge losses in their attempt to dump their way to market dominance over the past two years."

In March, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced preliminary countervailing duties ranging of up to 4.73 percent against Chinese solar manufacturers in response to WTO-illegal government subsidies. Preliminary antidumping subsidies of 31 percent to 249.96 percent followed in May. Commerce will announce its final determination in both cases on Oct. 9, 2012. The International Trade Commission will announce its final ruling on the cases on Nov. 7, 2012.

The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing, founded by seven companies that manufacture solar cells and panels in the United States, has more than 220 employers of more than 18,000 workers who have registered their support for CASM's case. The founding manufacturers have plants in nearly every region in the United States, including the Northwest and California, the Southwest, Midwest, Northeast and South and support several thousand U.S. manufacturing jobs. For details about CASM, go to www.americansolarmanufacturing.org; email media questions to media@americansolarmanufacturing.org; other questions or comments may be emailed to contact@americansolarmanufacturing.org.

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