| Author (Corporate) | European Commission: DG Communication |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Press Release |
| Series Details | IP/13/501 (04.06.13) |
| Publication Date | 04/06/2013 |
| Content Type | News |
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The European Commission decided on the 4 June 2013 to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of solar panels, cells and wafers from China. The Commission stated that the decision followed a thorough and serious investigation and extended contacts with market players. The moves came despite opposition from Germany and other EU Member States, and amid fears it could spark a trade war. The Commission argued that Chinese firms were unfairly undercutting rivals. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said that Chinese panels were being sold below cost and damaging competition. The German government explicitly rejected the preliminary anti-dumping measures. German Economy Minister Philipp Rösler repeated on the 4 June 2013: 'We believe this step would be a serious mistake'. The measures would enter into force on the 6 June 2013 throughout the EU. The move triggered an immediate response from China, which announced the launch of an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe into European wine. On the 6 June 2013 a representative of the Spanish Wine Federation added that if proceedings are opened and anti-dumping measures such as import tariffs applied, it could drag into a trade war. As France benefits the most from the wine exports to China, French President Francois Hollande had demanded for a special summit to solve the trade dispute, but chief of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso rejected the idea. The European Union and China according to Deutsche Welle from the 21 June 2013 had both signaled interest in bringing about a negotiated solution to their spat over solar panel tariffs. But they warned that a settlement was unlikely to appear overnight. |
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| Source Link | http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-501_en.htm |
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| Subject Categories | Energy |
| Countries / Regions | China, Europe |
