Low-energy bulbs set for trade boost

The price of energy-saving light bulbs is set to drop, with the abolition of duties currently imposed on imports from China.

Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson wants to eliminate the duties of up to 66%, which were introduced in 2002 for a period of five years. EU trade negotiators are expected to back his plans next week (26 July).

According to an EU diplomat, member states opposing the plans will include Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Germany has shown strong support for national light bulb manufacturer Osram, part of national electronics giant Siemens, which lobbied hard for a renewal of the duties regime.

Dutch rival Philips, which outsources the manufacturing of its light bulbs to China, will welcome a scrapping of duties. The company is said to be planning legal action should Mandelson’s proposals not be passed next week. Also opposing the duties are the US-based firms General Electric and Sylvania (the latter is a subsidiary of Osram) in its opposition to duties.

Mandelson’s stated aim is to introduce a zero-tariff regime for key environmentally-friendly goods.

UK Liberal MEP Sajjad Karim criticised the inconsistency of countries that oppose a lifting of tariffs. "Through the duties we are providing protection to manufacturers producing inefficient light bulbs," he said.

EU leaders had, under German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s stewardship in March, called on the Commission to draft plans for a phasing-out of the use of old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs over the next few years.

The price of energy-saving light bulbs is set to drop, with the abolition of duties currently imposed on imports from China.