06/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - Trade defence, Fjellner (EPP) is Parliament rapporteur on a proposal for modernisation. Christofer Fjellner (EPP, Sweden) has been appointed European Parliament rapporteur for the Commission's proposal on the modernisation of EU trade defence instruments, tabled by Commissioner Karel De Gucht on 11 April (see EUROPE 10824). The last review of the trade defence arsenal, which includes anti-dumping measures, anti-subsidy measures and safeguard measures, dates back to 1995. An attempt at reform launched in 2006 by De Gucht's predecessor, Peter Mandelson, failed in 2008. Modernisation not only comprises the regulation itself but also guidelines concerning the calculation of injury margins, the choice of analogue country, the estimation of the Union interest, the length of measures and the expiry review. Trade defence has become a hot topic in trade policy with the triggering of the trade war with China resulting from anti-dumping cases in respect of Chinese solar panels. (EH/transl.jl)