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INCOME TAXES (Details 2) ¥ in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 CNY (¥) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 27.00% | 27.00% | 27.00% | 27.00% |
Amount of interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits |  | $ 4,978 | $ 4,735 |  |
Changes to the company's liabilities for uncertain tax positions |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | 10,844 | 13,001 | $ 11,242 |
Addition for tax positions related to the current year |  | 196 |  | 2,403 |
Reductions for tax positions from prior years/Statute of limitations expirations |  |  | (1,368) |  |
Foreign exchange effect |  | (1,550) | (789) | (644) |
Ending balance |  | $ 9,490 | $ 10,844 | $ 13,001 | $ 11,242
Canada |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 26.50% | 26.50% | 26.50% | 26.50% |
Canada | Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 26.50% |
United States | Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 38.56% | 38.56% | 37.95% | 38.10% |
Japan | Canadian Solar Japan K.K. |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 35.64% | 35.64% | 35.64% | 38.01% |
Germany | Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 33.00% | 33.00% | 33.00% | 33.00% |
Hong Kong | HKSI |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50% |
PRC |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations | 3 years | 3 years |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations under special circumstances | 5 years | 5 years |  |  |
Threshold for underpayment of income tax liability that is listed as a special circumstance | ¥ | ¥ 100,000 |  |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations for transfer pricing related adjustment | 10 years | 10 years |  |  |
Transition period of the new EIT Law | 5 years | 5 years |  |  |
PRC | CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% |  |  |
PRC | CSI Solar Technologies Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 12.50%
PRC | SZCC, or CSI Cells |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 15.00%
PRC | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00%
PRC | CSAS |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 12.50%
PRC | SZSP |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% |  |  |
PRC | Suzhou Sanysolar Materials Technology Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 15.00% | 15.00% | 15.00% | 15.00% | 25.00%

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