Moses Lake, Washington - January 23, 2018: REC Silicon ASA (REC Silicon)
strongly believes that a settlement of all solar trade related disputes between
the United States and China is the best path forward to preserve, restore and
promote U.S. solar manufacturing jobs, reduce the U.S.-China trade deficit as
well as promote the health of the broader U.S. solar sector including the
burgeoning downstream solar development industry in the United States.
REC Silicon thanks President Trump and the U.S. Trade Representative for their
commitment to engage in discussions with a view to resolving the antidumping and
countervailing duty measures currently imposed on U.S. polysilicon as part of
the Section 201 remedy announced yesterday. REC Silicon urges the U.S.
Government to pursue negotiations with the Government of China as soon as
possible to conclude an agreement that addresses these solar related trade
disputes.
Re-opening the Chinese market to U.S. polysilicon exports is the most important
thing that would ensure that high technology solar manufacturing jobs are
protected and preserved in the United States.
Tore Torvund, REC Silicon's CEO commented "It is imperative that the U.S.
Administration take constructive steps to resolve this prolonged harmful dispute
in the near term. In times of rising global polysilicon demand, opportunities
for U.S. polysilicon manufacturers, the industry's technology leaders and the
most competitive producers in the world, should be experiencing healthy
expansion, not rapid contraction. This Administration was elected to support
U.S. workers, and we encourage the U.S. Trade Representative to conclude an
agreement to protect our dedicated and innovative U.S. employees. REC Silicon
can out-compete our foreign rivals and we can do it from our manufacturing
locations here in the United States. We simply need access to the global
market, which can be achieved by the discussions provided for in the President's
announcement."
