China urges negotiation as Indian cos want solar imports probe - report

Sep 20, 2012 - The Chinese commerce ministry yesterday urged solar manufacturers from India and China to resolve trade tensions through negotiation after some Indian firms applied for an anti-dumping probe into panels made in China and other countries, Chinese news agency Xinhua said.

Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang voiced concerns over India's potential steps. He warned that if the country started investigations into China-made panels, this would hurt the cooperation between the two countries in the emerging energy sector and inflict pain on local Indian companies.

These recent events suggest that trade strains in the solar industry are intensifying as almost all solar equipment makers globally are struggling with overcapacity, government support cut-backs in key markets and increasing competition.

In the first week of September, the European Commission launched an investigation into imports of solar products from China, in response to accusations from European companies that Chinese competitors were selling at prices below market value. A similar investigation in the US led to preliminary anti-dumping tariffs earlier this year of between 31% and 250% for China-made solar cells and modules.

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