Utility Scale Wind Towers from Spain Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

July 27, 2021
News Release 21-095
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1545 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of utility scale wind towers from Spain that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chair Jason E. Kearns, Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin, and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order on imports of this product from Spain.

The Commission’s public report Utility Scale Wind Towers from Spain (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1545 (Final), USITC Publication 5219, August 2021) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation. 

The report will be available by August 27, 2021; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Utility Scale Wind Towers from Spain
Investigation No. 731-TA-1545 (Final)

Product Description:  Wind towers, whether or not tapered, and sections thereof, designed to support the nacelle and rotor blades in a wind turbine with a minimum rated electrical power generation capacity in excess of 100 kilowatts and with a minimum height of 50 meters (164 feet) measured from the base of the tower to the bottom of the nacelle when fully assembled. A wind tower section consists of, at a minimum, multiple steel plates rolled into cylindrical or conical shapes and welded together (or otherwise attached) to form a steel shell, regardless of coating, end-finish, painting, treatment, or method of manufacture, and with or without flanges, doors, or internal or external components attached to the wind tower section. Several wind tower sections are normally required to form a completed wind tower. Specifically excluded from the scope are (1) nacelles and rotor blades, regardless of whether they are attached to the wind tower; (2) any internal or external components which are not attached to the wind towers or sections thereof, unless those components are shipped with the tower sections.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Final antidumping duty investigation.
2.   Petitioners:  Arcosa Wind Towers Inc., Dallas, TX; Broadwind Towers, Inc., Manitowoc, WI.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
4.   USITC Hearing Date:  Thursday, June 10, 2021. ^[1]
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Tuesday, July 27, 2021.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Monday, August 9, 2021.

U.S. Industry in 2020:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  6.
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
3.   Production and related workers:  2,205.
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  $955 million.
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption: $1.8 billion.
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  ²

U.S. Imports in 2020:

1.   Subject imports:  ^[2]
2.   Nonsubject imports:  ²
3.   Leading import sources:  Malaysia, India, and Spain.