American solar panel makers accused China of illegally intervening in the solar panel market and filed formal trade complaints on Wednesday requesting the US government impose tariffs, MarketWatch reported. The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing said Chinese subsidies allow its solar manufacturers to keep prices artificially low. The group filed complaints with the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission asking the government specifically to protect US panel manufacturers making traditional crystalline solar panels. The requested tariffs would not extend to thin-film solar panels or to thermal solar technology. Gordon Brinser, a solar executive and leader of the coalition, said China would have no competitive advantage in the US market without state subsidies because US labor is more productive and China must pay the cost of long-distance shipping. The US solar industry has suffered over the last few years; US-based firms including Solyndra, Evergreen Solar and SpectraWatt have recently declared bankruptcy.