US slaps tariffs on Chinese wind tower makers

The US Commerce Department decided to impose preliminary duties of up to 26% on imports of Chinese-made wind towers, in a move likely to further strain trade ties, Reuters reported. The US brought the case after the Wind Tower Trade Coalition, a group of US producers, said they were being driven out of business by imports from China and Vietnam. The commission will make a final decision on the duties in August and the US International Trade Commission will vote in September. The US International Trade Commission also approved duties of 21-46% on China-made high-pressure steel cylinders, which the US imported US$82 million of last year. Just two weeks ago, the Commerce Department set preliminary duties of 31-250% on Chinese-made solar panels and cells.