The petition also
mentions currency manipulation as another tactic that drives out American solar businesses. From the Washington Post:
The companies complain that China has aided its own solar companies with low-interest loans, cheap land deals and lax environmental standards that lower costs. In addition, they say that China’s
currency, which is generally believed to be 10 to 35 percent undervalued, makes Chinese exports cheaper than they should be. Moreover, they allege that many of the Chinese companies are losing money on U.S. sales, a tactic to grab market share and drive U.S. competitors out of business.
Labor costs, which make up less than 10 percent of solar panel production costs, are not a key factor.
“We can compete with any country in the world,” said Santarris. “However it is very difficult for us to compete with the
Communist Party of China​.”