Shi’s comments, reported in the New York Times, raised a stir earlier this week as it appeared that the Chinese manufacturer was selling photovoltaic modules at a loss to gain market share in the US at a time of supply glut and falling prices.

The comments fuelled a growing row over the global solar trade, with top executives at German solar companies SolarWorld and Conergy calling for tariffs on imported Chinese modules and a “Buy European” provision similar to the “Buy American” language included in the US economic stimulus bill that is a funding source for many renewable energy projects.

In a follow-up story, Suntech’s Shi clarified his position, telling the Times that his company’s US prices “more than covered the production costs and therefore was above the marginal cost”, but that US administrative costs were high. He said the company’s US arm has lost money since 2005 and may turn a profit in 2010 if it can grow sales.