Chinese solar companies taunt US complainants

Leaders of China's solar power industry rejected a U.S. trade complaint that they receive unfair government support.

The chairmen of four of China's biggest solar companies, including Suntech Power Holdings Co. and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., said at a news conference that their success comes from more advanced technology and skillful management.

"If you ask whether the solar industry in China has received special treatment or special support, the answer is no," said Suntech's Shi Zhengrong, one of the solar power industry's most successful entrepreneurs.

The U.S. Commerce Department launched an investigation this month into complaints that Chinese companies were exporting solar panels and equipment to the United States at less than fair value. A final ruling is due in July. If the complaint is upheld, the U.S. government could impose punitive tariffs.

The case has attracted unusual attention for a trade complaint following the bankruptcy of solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC, after the California-based company received a $528 million U.S. government loan.

Last week, China's Commerce Ministry announced its own trade probe into whether U.S. government support for producers of wind, solar and other renewable energy technology is an improper trade barrier.

If Washington imposes sanctions, one result will be a loss of American jobs because U.S. companies are both buyers of Chinese products and suppliers of materials, the companies said in a statement. They said Chinese manufacturers spend some $2 billion a year to buy materials such as polysilicon from U.S. suppliers.

"Any trade restrictive measures that may be imposed will unavoidably cause serious impairment to the sustainable development of the green energy industries as well as consumers' interests both in China and the United States," said the statement.

The executives sharply criticized the lead company in the Commerce Department complaint, SolarWorld Industries America Inc., a unit of Germany's SolarWorld AG. They said it receives U.S. and European subsidies while complaining about Chinese support.

"We applaud the support of the European Union and the U.S. government toward renewable energy. But we are very sorry that SolarWorld has applied such a double standard when they talk about subsidies," said Canadian Solar's Qu.