US biz group protests against 'unfair' solar tariffs on China
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), the investment promotion agency in the Arizona state of United States, is filing a formal protest against imposing tariffs on imported Chinese solar products.
According to a local report by CNTV news, the council said during a give-day visit to China it will submit an official complaint to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC). GPEC is the only offical U.S. organization that has opposed the ITC’s ruling, which set tariffs as high as 250 percent on Chinese photovoltaic cells and modules in May.
"Utilizing Arizona’s environmental advantages, the solar power industry has become a primary source of foreign investment. The state government makes a series of favorable policies including tax alleviation and technical support to investors,” said Chris Camacho, the Executive Vice President of GPEC.
He added that Chinese companies created a lot of local jobs and offered quality solar cells at a very competitive price.
The ITC’s ruling against China was unfair since some European solar manufacturers in the U.S. also enjoy government subsidies, according to Camacho.
"The world needs China, its significance in solar power industry cannot be changed,” said Camacho. “Some Americans don’t understand global economics. Free trade and globalization is the rightful and only way of economic development.”
GPEC is joining efforts with other economic organizations to protest the ITC’s ruling, and a hearing will be held on Oct. 3, the article noted.