The Commerce Department on Tuesday announced that it determined utility-scale wind turbine towers from China and Vietnam were both dumped on the U.S. market and received government subsidies during their manufacture.
Dumping occurs when an overseas company sells a product in the United States at less than its fair value, while countervailable subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefit domestic production and exports.
Commerce determined producers/exporters from China and Vietnam have sold utility-scale wind towers in the United States at dumping margins of 44.99 percent to 70.63 percent and 51.5 percent to 58.49 percent, respectively. The department also determined producers/exporters from China have received countervailable subsidies of 21.86 percent to 34.81 percent.
In the China antidumping investigation, Chengxi Shipyard Co. and Titan Wind Energy (Suzhou) Co. were determined to have final dumping margins of 47.59 percent and 44.99 percent, respectively. Three other exporters qualified for a separate rate of 46.38 percent. All other producers/exporters from China received a final dumping margin of 70.63 percent.
Commerce found in its countervailing duty investigation that CS Wind China Co., CS Wind Tech (Shanghai) Co., and CS Wind Corp. have a final net subsidy rate of 21.86 percent. Titan Wind, Titan Lianyungang Metal Product Co., Baotou Titan Wind Power Equipment Co., and Shenyang Titan Metal Co. were determined to have a final net subsidy rate of 34.81 percent. All other producers/exporters from China received a final net subsidy rate of 28.34 percent.
In its Vietnam antidumping investigation, Commerce found that CS Wind Corp. and CS Wind Vietnam Co. Ltd. have a final dumping margin of 51.5 percent. All other producers/exporters from Vietnam received a final dumping margin of 58.49 percent.
Commerce will now instruct Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits equal to the applicable weighted-average dumping margins. As a result of the affirmative final countervailing duty determination, Commerce will order the resumption of the suspension of liquidation and require a cash deposit equal to the final net subsidy rates if the U.S. International Trade Commission issues a final affirmative injury determination.
Imports subject to the antidumping and countervailing duties are covered by U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers 7308.20.0020 and 8502.31.0000, respectively.
The ITC will next make its final injury determinations by Jan. 31. If the ITC makes affirmative final determinations that imports of utility-scale wind towers from China and/or Vietnam harm the domestic industry, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders. On the other hand, if the ITC makes a negative determination of injury for either China or Vietnam, then that investigation will be terminated.
The petitioner for these investigations is the Wind Tower Trade Coalition, which is comprised of Broadwind Towers of Manitowoc, Wis.; DMI Industries in Fargo, N.D.; Katana Summit of Columbus, Neb.; and Trinity Structural Towers in Dallas.
According to Commerce, in 2011 imports of utility-scale wind towers from China and Vietnam were valued at $222 million and $79 million, respectively.
Chinese, Vietnamese wind turbine towers dumped on U.S.
