Ron Wyden is key witness in SolarWorld's trade case Monday

Dec 5, 2014, 12:30pm PST Updated: Dec 5, 2014, 2:47pm PST

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Cathy Cheney | Portland Business Journal

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D.-Oregon, will testify that low-cost imports are hurting domestic solar manufacturers in a key hearing on SolarWorld's latest trade case against China and Taiwan on Monday morning.

Staff Reporter- Portland Business Journal
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U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden will testify on behalf of SolarWorld Americas LLC's when it makes its case that the domestic solar industry is being damaged by Asian solar rivals.

Wyden, who is a strong advocate for the company, was added to SolarWorld's witness list this week in advance of a key hearing Monday in Washington D.C.

It isn't the first time the Oregon Democrat has weighed in. The case is SolarWorld's 10th to date and Wyden has provided similar testimony and feedback in the past.

SolarWorld has prevailed in all nine of its previous cases.

SolarWorld is a favorite destination for Wyden, who joined executives in Hillsboro in December when the German-owned solar giant when announced plans to invest $10 million to expand its plant and add 200 new employees.

Wyden will testify that Chinese and Taiwanese trade practices are harming the domestic solar panel industry when he appears Monday morning be for International Trade Commission. The commission plays a key role in the trade case because it will determine if U.S. solar manufacturers were harmed by foreign manufacturing practices.

If no harm is found, any tariffs imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce will be overturned.

In its latest case, SolarWorld argues that manufacturers in China and Taiwan are in violation of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy rules. The department previously agreed to preliminary substantial anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on both China and Taiwan.

If the Department of Commerce affirms its earlier determinations on Dec. 16, the trade commission will make a final ruling on the cases on Jan. 20, 2015.

Wendy Culverwell covers sustainable business, manufacturing and law.

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