Tim Brightbill Discusses Solar Trade Case with PBS Nightly Business Report

Tim Brightbill, a partner in the International Trade Practice, appeared on PBS Nightly Business Report to discuss the U.S. solar industry's filing of antidumping and countervailing duty cases against Chinese manufacturers of solar cells and panels.

"Demand is growing in the United States for solar. It has doubled each of the last two years," said Mr. Brightbill, who is representing SolarWorld and other U.S. manufacturers of solar cells and panels. "This is an industry that should be growing and adding thousands of jobs and dozens of companies. Instead, China, with its government sponsored industry, has taken that growth and is looking to dominate the world market through the expansion of its solar industry."

The PBS interview can be watched here.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that a "50% slide in solar-panel prices last year hit manufacturers hard, driving down their profits and stock prices and forcing some companies out of business."

"Part of the point of these trade cases is to return pricing to a nondumped, nonsubsidized level," said Mr. Brightbill. He added that a dozen U.S. solar firms have gone out of business, declared bankruptcy or laid off large numbers of employees over the last two years.

A preliminary ruling from the Commerce Department on the countervailing duty (or subsidy) portion of the case is expected later today.