Brussels, 08/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 8 May, the European Commission backed EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht's plans to levy anti-dumping duty of an average of 47% on imports of solar panels from China.
On Wednesday 8 May, the Commission approved the Commissioner's idea to levy anti-dumping duty on Chinese solar panels and components ranging from 37% to 68%, depending on the company. De Gucht hopes in this way to deal with a hefty problem because exports to the EU of Chinese solar panels and components were worth €21 billion in 2011. The same imports are also the subject of an investigation into trade subsidies. On Wednesday, it is reported that the proposals from De Gucht, one of the most free-trade oriented commissioners, were backed wholeheartedly by the College of Commissioners.
The European Commission will now send the proposal to the Council of Ministers. Once endorsed by the EU27 later this month, the anti-dumping duty will come into force provisionally in June, awaiting the conclusion of the investigation in December. The six months of temporary application of the duty will give China time to come to an arrangement with Brussels as part of a broader adjustment to EU-Chinese trade. (EH/transl.fl)