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Daily Archives: December 2, 2011

U.S. Solar Industry Coalition Applauds Unanimous Federal Trade Ruling Against Chinese Unfair Trade Practices

News release: “The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing today applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) preliminary determination that dumped and subsidized solar imports from China have harmed the U.S. domestic solar industry. In a unanimous 6-0 vote, the ITC found that Chinese imports are either materially injuring the domestic industry, or threaten the U.S. industry with such injury. As a result, both the ITC and U.S. Department of Commerce will proceed with investigations into whether antidumping and countervailing duties should be imposed to prevent further unfair losses of U.S. companies and jobs as a result of China’s anticompetitive practices…Comprised of seven companies that manufacture crystalline silicon solar cells and panels in the United States, CASM supports SolarWorld’s allegation that Chinese solar cells and panels, heavily subsidized by the Chinese government, are flooding the American marketplace with artificially low prices intended to put the U.S. solar industry out of business. The Department of Energy estimates that last year alone, the Chinese government provided its manufacturers with over $30 billion in subsidies, including $7 billion alone to one company, Suntech. As a result of a sprawling portfolio of Chinese subsidies, U.S. solar manufacturers have been forced to close or downsize their operations, leading to the elimination of nearly 2,000 high-tech American jobs in multiple states and the disruption of communities and local businesses. Among the direct solar job losses were 800 jobs in Massachusetts, 117 in New York, 328 in Maryland, 266 in California and hundreds more in other states.”

Unemployment rate falls to 8.6% in November; payroll employment rises by 120,000

News release: “The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 8.6 percent in November, and nonfarm payroll employment rose by 120,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in retail trade, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and health care. Government employment continued to trend down. Household… Continue Reading