On May 17,2012, The US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced its affirmative preliminarily determination in the antidumping duty investigation of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules (solar cells) from China. DOC found that dumping occur when Chinese companies sells a crystalline silicon PV cells in the US at less than fair value. This is following that DOC announced preliminarily determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of those products from China.

DOC preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters sold PV cells in the US at dumping margins ranging from 31.14 % to 249.96%, and those companies had received countervailable subsidies ranging from 2.9 % to 4.73%.

Final decision should be brought out in October this year.