The European Commission has decided to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of solar panels and key components (i.e. cells and wafers) from China. An investigation found that a Chinese solar panel is sold to Europe far below its normal market value. The duties will be imposed to alleviate the harm that is caused to the European industry by this unfair trade practice, dumping.
Whereas the dumping rate is at 88% on average, the anti-dumping duties imposed will only be set at an average of 47.6%, which is required to remove the harm caused by the dumping to the European industry. In addition, a transitional period of two months with a reduced duty level of 11.8% will be introduced as of 6 June. The duty will have to be paid as an “ad valorem” duty; in other words, as a percentage of the import value. It is provisional and imposed in total for a period of maximum six months. The investigation will now continue. Definitive measures applying for five years, if any, would have to be imposed within 15 months of initiation, i.e. by early December 2013.
Germany, 15 European PV associations and many experts have warned that these duties will harm the EU solar industry and the European economy as a whole.
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