Statement from American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention (A-SMACC)

November 15, 2021

The members of A-SMACC are disappointed by the Commerce Department’s decision last week in the solar circumvention proceedings. We strongly disagree with Commerce’s rationale for denying proprietary treatment of our identities. The U.S. Government is well aware of the real risk of retaliation that A-SMACC members, like all U.S. companies, face from the Chinese government and Chinese competitors. It is unfortunate that we are being forced to choose between revealing our identities and exercising our trade remedy rights.

With that in mind, we are evaluating all options available to us under the trade remedy and other laws, including but not limited to refiling a petition satisfying the Commerce Department’s concerns. We urge the Commerce Department and the Administration to also consider all options to address unfair trade in the solar energy sector, including but not limited to self-initiation of further circumvention actions and trade cases. We stand ready to work with the Administration to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, R&D and supply chains in the critically important solar sector, while meeting our nation’s renewable energy goals. Above all, we will not cede monopoly power to China and to Chinese-owned companies on solar products. U.S. solar manufacturing is recovering, and the future is bright, but we should not have to compete with the unfair trade practices of China and Chinese-owned companies. We should ensure that America, which invented solar technology, leads the next generation of solar manufacturing, R&D, and deployment.

Media Contact:
Timothy C. Brightbill
202.719.3138 | tbrightbill@wiley.law