BEIJING - China's leading solar panel manufacturer, Trina Solar, on Thursday joined a fresh wave of calls against the US Department of Commerce's preliminary ruling to impose anti-subsidy duties on imported photovoltaic products from China, saying the US decision is "unjust and unreasonable.

"I hope the US DOC can fully understand the fact that Trina Solar develops its own business through indigenous innovation, rather than through  government subsidies," Gao Jifan, chairman and CEO of Trina Solar, said Thursday.

The DOC should base its ruling on facts and facilitate, rather than impede, the development of the solar energy industry in the United States and the world, Gao said.

Gao said he still expects a "just" result from further examination and final determination later this year by the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission, which will determine whether China's practices have damaged the US solar energy industry.

Founded in 1997, Trina Solar has been the hardest-hit solar panel producer, suffering a countervailing duty rate of 4.73 percent on its exports to the United States.

The DOC on Tuesday announced its preliminary determination in a countervailing duty investigation of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China, setting anti-subsidy duty rates between 2.9 percent to 4.73 percent on imports of the components.

Foreign-funded high-tech enterprises in China enjoy the same corporate income tax preferences that the DOC defines as "government subsidies" for Trina Solar, according to Gao.

"The preferential tax policies are not provided solely to the photovoltaic industry or export companies. Therefore, referring to the policies as government subsidies is unreasonable," Gao said.

He reiterated that Trina Solar has purchased silicon materials from domestic suppliers at prices that are decided by the market.

"All of this is about business and Trina Solar does not enjoy any differentiated treatment or receive any government subsidies," he said.

The company is willing to cooperate and communicate with the DOC in further administrative proceedings, Gao added.

The Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday said the US decision to impose new import duties on solar panels made in China will hurt the interests of both sides, calling on the US government to consider the "long-term picture" and prudently handle trade frictions with China.