Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade has officially launched an investigation that may result in the imposition of anti-dumping duties on wind towers originating from China. This move comes in response to a complaint filed by domestic wind tower producers, as announced by the government on Saturday.
The complaint, made by Vietnamese producers, asserts that the influx of Chinese-made wind towers into the Vietnamese market has inflicted “significant damage” upon their operations. However, specific details regarding the nature and extent of this damage were not provided in the government's statement.
The statement further clarified that, if deemed necessary based on the preliminary findings of the investigation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has the authority to implement temporary anti-dumping measures. These measures aim to counteract dumping activities that adversely affect domestic manufacturing and businesses.
The government did not specify a timeline for the completion of the investigation, leaving the duration of the inquiry open-ended.
Unfortunately, neither Vietnamese customs nor the national statistics office currently provides data on wind tower imports, making it challenging to gauge the exact extent of the issue.
According to information from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, local wind tower producers have put forward a proposal for an anti-dumping tax rate of 97%. In contrast, wind towers imported into Vietnam currently benefit from a most-favored nation (MFN) tariff rate of only 3%.
Vietnam is actively working towards bolstering its wind energy sector as part of its broader commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by the mid-century mark. The nation has set ambitious goals, with the aim of wind power, primarily onshore, comprising 18.5% of its total energy mix by the year 2030.
As of the time of reporting, the Chinese embassy in Hanoi has not responded to requests for comment during non-business hours. This development underscores the ongoing trade dynamics in the renewable energy sector as nations in the region strive to meet their sustainability and climate goals.
