While the US Department of Commerce is conducting an anti-dumping investigation of China-based PV module makers and their cell suppliers in Taiwan, the China makers reportedly have asked their government to talk with the US about setting floor prices and import quotas for China-made modules instead of imposing anti-dumping tariffs.
According to sources with Taiwan's PV industry, the US is unlikely to agree. But if that happens, it may not be bad for Taiwan-based solar cell makers.
If the US government sets floor prices and import quotas, China-based PV module makers, along with their cell suppliers in Taiwan, can avoid punitive taxation, the sources said. China-based PV module makers will have to raise prices to meet the pricing requirements, and in turn surrender their pricing advantage over Taiwan-made modules or cells price in the US market, the sources argued.
Currently in the US market, quotes for China-based PV modules are US$0.66-0.70/W, Taiwan ones US$0.72-0.75/W, and US, Europe, Japan and Korea ones US$0.75/W on average, the sources noted.