Brussels, 05/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European association of solar panel manufacturers, EU ProSun, has spoken out against Chinese manufacturers' mass violations of the out-of-court agreement reached in summer 2013 between the Commission and the Chinese government in the framework of the dispute over solar panels.
EU Pro Sun announced on Thursday 5 June that it had that day submitted a detailed document to DG Trade of the Commission, containing nearly 1,500 tenders by Chinese solar companies quoting prices on the European market below the minimum level agreed between the EU and China.
The agreement brokered last summer is based on a price commitment which allows Chinese exporters of solar panels to avoid heavy anti-dumping duty of nearly 50%. Under the agreement, 70% of Chinese producers of solar panels, who undertook to observe a minimum price set at 56 cents, will not pay anti-dumping duty. The other Chinese manufacturers not wishing to take part in this agreement have to pay anti-dumping duty of 47.6% (EUROPE 10902).
“EU trade rules are being systematically violated by Chinese manufacturers. Not one Chinese manufacturer seems to follow the agreed minimum prices for imports into the EU. Dumped Chinese solar products continue to flood the EU market, destroying European industry and jobs. The Commission must act fast to stop these violations and implement sanctions”, the association EU Pro Sun insists. “It is obvious that Chinese companies are neither paying duties, nor observing the minimum price agreement”, it adds.
EU Pro Sun accuses the Chinese manufacturers of never ceasing to deceive and circumvent their own undertaking and EU rules. Their tricks range from kickback payments camouflaged as marketing grants to false product shipments massively under-declaring the quantities actually imported into the EU. The association adds that the majority of Chinese companies use “shady middlemen” to act as a “buffer” between the Chinese companies in the European authorities. (EH)