China plays down US solar row
BEIJING - The Associated Press
Chinese workers inspect a solar panel at a factory in Huaibei, east China. AFP photo
China sought yesterday to defuse a trade row with the United States after the latter imposed duties on Chinese solar products, saying it would not hurt ties, even as state media cried protectionism.The U.S. said on March 20 that it would collect duties of between 2.9 and 4.7 percent on Chinese solar cells and panels, in a preliminary ruling after an investigation over whether firms received unfair financial support. U.S. firms accuse China of improperly subsidizing its solar sector.
“It is normal for the two sides to have friction and differences of views,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing in Beijing. “We should not allow such friction to impair the sound development of Sino-US economic relations,” he said, calling for negotiations to help resolve trade disputes.
