US confirms heavy duties on Chinese solar cells

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States confirmed on Wednesday hefty anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on Chinese solar cell makers that have added to trade tensions between the two economic powers.

The Commerce Department issued a final confirmation of its May finding that Chinese producers and exporters had been selling solar cells into the United States at artificially low prices, and put the anti-dumping duties at between 18 per cent and 250 per cent.

It meanwhile put countervailing duty levels, originally set in March to offset China's subsidies, at 15-16 per cent, mainly to counter an "export buyer's credit" from the Chinese government.

It named Suntech Power, the world's largest maker of solar cells, and another large producer, Trina Solar, as key offenders, but said at least 60 other Chinese companies would also be hit with anti-dumping charges.