Bloomberg Quotes Tim Brightbill on the Solar Industry Trade Remedy Case Against China

Tim Brightbill, a partner in Wiley Rein's International Trade Practice, was quoted by Bloomberg in a story focusing on the possible effects of additional duties placed on dumped and subsidized Chinese imports of solar cells and modules.

Last month, Wiley Rein LLP filed antidumping and countervailing duties cases on behalf of the U.S. solar industry against Chinese manufacturers of solar cells and panels. The petitions are supported by the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing and senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (R-OR). The cases are among the largest of their type ever filed against China and are the first in the renewable-energy industries.

Mr. Brightbill told the ITC investigators that China's rapid growth in the solar cell and module market is made possible because of billions of dollars in Chinese government subsidies, in an attempt to drive away U.S. competitors by selling products for less than cost. Mr. Brightbill pointed out that Chinese market share rose from only eight percent of the U.S. market in 2008 to more than 50 percent today.

"Even for China, this volume increase is remarkable," Mr. Brightbill told ITC investigators, while adding that more than 1,700 U.S. jobs have recently been lost.

The ITC panel is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on December 2.