Considering that the US government in 2016 will review anti-dumping tariffs imposed on Taiwan-made crystalline silicon solar cells, experts in the PV industry in Taiwan are warning Taiwan-based makers to not export B-grade solar cells produced in countries other than Taiwan and China or PV modules made of such solar cells to the US.
B-grade solar cells offer inferior energy conversion efficiency.
Exports of B-grade solar products are very likely to be judged as dumping, and therefore the 2015 anti-dumping tariffs will be maintained or upward adjusted at the review in 2016, the sources said. Taiwan-based makers hope that 2015 anti-dumping tariffs will be reduced or even canceled in 2016.
In order to evade anti-dumping taxation, Taiwan-based makers have to adopt solar cells not produced in Taiwan and China for exports to the US market. In order to be price competitive in the US market, the sources are concerned that some Taiwan-based makers may procure B-grade solar cells to minimize production costs.
