SHANGHAI, May 18: Chinese companies have slammed the United States as “short-sighted” after it imposed hefty duties on solar cells it said were being sold at artificially low prices.

The US Commerce Department slapped levies of between 31 and 250 per cent on the Chinese solar cell producers in retaliation for the so-called “dumping”.

The move is the latest in a long-running trade row between Washington and Beijing, who have clashed over a range of issues that have on occasion had to be settled by the World Trade Organisation.

China’s Suntech Power, which was specifically named in the US government investigation, called the move out of touch with reality.

“These duties do not reflect the reality of a highly-competitive global solar industry,” Andrew Beebe, Suntech’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

He said the company, the world’s largest maker of solar cells, would work with the US government to refute the duties.

“Despite these harmful trade barriers, we hope that the US, China and all countries will engage in constructive dialogue to avert a deepening solar trade war,” Beebe said.

Another company named by the US government, Trina Solar, said it would still attempt to serve the US market despite the duties and remained committed to keeping prices low.

“This is simply what is required to unlock the next level of fossil fuel replacement in the United States,” Mark Kingsley, Trina’s chief commercial officer, said in another statement.

“Any duties are short-sighted impediments to this worthy goal.”—AFP