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INCOME TAXES - Domestic federal statutory tax rates (Details) ¥ in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 CNY (¥) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 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 |  | $ 2,747 | $ 4,978 |
Changes to the company's liabilities for uncertain tax positions |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | 9,490 | 10,844 | $ 13,001
Addition for tax positions related to the current year |  | 1,376 | 196 |
Reductions for tax positions from prior years/Statute of limitations expirations |  | (5,436) |  | (1,368)
Foreign exchange effect |  |  | (1,550) | (789)
Foreign exchange effect |  | 254 |  |
Ending balance |  | $ 5,684 | $ 9,490 | $ 10,844
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% | 25.00%
United States | Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 37.69% | 37.69% | 38.56% | 37.95%
United States | Canadian Solar Energy Acquisition Co. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 43.63% | 43.63% | 44.84% |
Japan | Canadian Solar Japan K.K. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 35.15% | 35.15% | 35.64% | 35.64%
Germany | Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 33.00% | 33.00% | 33.00% | 33.00%
Vietnam | Canadian Solar Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 10.00% | 10.00% | 10.00% |
Reduced income tax rate from 2020 to 2028 (as a percent) | 5.00% | 5.00% |  |
Hong Kong | HKSI |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50%
PRC |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations for transfer pricing related adjustment | 10 years | 10 years |  |
PRC | CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 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%
PRC | SZCC, or CSI Cells Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00%
PRC | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 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%
PRC | SZSP |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 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%

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