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China has terminated the levy of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar grade polysilicon originating from the European Union, duties that had been in place since May 2014.

Back then after an investigation it was decided to implement anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of solar-grade polysilicon originating from European Union for a period of 2 years. In the investigation, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce had found that the European Union had dumped and down-valued solar grade polysilicon in the Chinese market.

Upon being requested by the domestic industry the Ministry of Commerce starting May 2017, extended implementation period of anti-dumping measures and countervailing measures on European Union imports of solar-grade polysilicon for an 18-month period.

The domestic industry in China was supposed to file a review by October 31, 2018, which it did not file even after being reminded by the Ministry of Commerce. This led to the Ministry of Commerce dropping the plan of initiating another investigation. The Ministry of Commerce terminated the levy of anti-dumping and countervailing duties.

This is bonhomie from the Chinese in response to the European Union removing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures put against Chinese solar panels.

It had previously been reported that the European Union first imposed definitive anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures in December 2013 for a period of two years. These were then renewed in March 2017 for a period of 18 months. In September, Chinese solar panels were free from anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures put in place by the EU.

This is good news for Chinese solar component manufacturers as the price of polysilicon could now go down.

However, another major global player, the United States, has announced a 25 percent additional tariff on the import of 279 Chinese products, worth approximately $16 billion. Among these products, solar cells and modules are included under the category “diodes for semiconductor devices, other than light-emitting diodes.”

In India, the office of Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has initiated an investigation on import of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) sheets for solar modules imported from China PR, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Thailand.

In February 2018, Indian solar glass producer Gujarat Borosil filed a petition requesting the imposition of an anti-dumping duty on import of textured tempered glass (solar glass), whether coated or uncoated, to India from Malaysia. In August 2017, the Indian Ministry of Finance imposed an anti-dumping duty on tempered glass (solar glass) imported from China in the range of $64.04 per metric ton (MT) to $136.21/MT.

While one market has toughened up its stance, another one has just opened its markets.

Happy new year!