Brussels, 24/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The recent decision by the US government to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese exports of solar panels could lead to anti-dumping inquiries and anti-subsidy action against the same Chinese products in Europe, where the German firm, SolarWorld AG, is seeking allies in the solar industry to convince the Commission.
After having won the day in the United States, where its US subsidiary - at the head of a coalition of six other solar panel producers - convinced Washington to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese products, the German firm SolarWorld AG now hopes to export the dossier to Europe.
The anti-dumping taxes announced on 17 May by the US Trade Department against solar panels imported from China, and which will affect the products of 61 Chinese manufacturers, will amount to between 30% and 250%. In March, the US government had announced taxes of 2.9% to 4.73% on imports from the three main Chinese producers.
SolarWorld AG is now seeking allies in the EU solar industry, with a view to forming a coalition representing at least 25% of producers in that sector, a threshold that would force the Commission to open an investigation. The German company hopes to file a complaint this year. (EH/transl.jl)