Brussels, 06/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into European exports of polycrystalline silicon, a material used in the manufacturing of photovoltaic cells. It is also lodging a complaint at the WTO against feed-in tariff programmes in Greece and Italy.
Two months after the Commission opened its anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar panels and cells from China into the EU, Beijing has effectively fought back on two different fronts.
Firstly, on Thursday 1 November, China opened an anti-dumping investigation into imports into China of polycrystalline silicon manufactured in the EU. According to figures provided by the Chinese government and published by the New China agency, China imported 9,300 tonnes of polycrystalline silicon from the EU in the first half of 2012, a 30.8% increase, while the average price of imports fell by 47.5% over a 12 month period. The investigation is expected to focus on government subsidies in Germany and preferential loans granted by the European Investment Bank.
Secondly, on Monday 5 November, a complaint was lodged at the WTO against certain aid provided by the EU to the renewable energy sector. The Chinese complaint is reported to target support measures for the production of green energy production through feed-in tariff programmes in Greece and Italy. (EH/trans/fl)