EU does not plan anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese solar imports now

Aug 8, 2013 - The European Commission (EC) will not impose preliminary anti-subsidy duties on China-made solar products but will continue its investigation for another four months, it said on Wednesday.

The European Union (EU) launched its anti-subsidy investigation on solar equipment coming from China in November 2012, responding to a industry complaints, and had nine months to decide whether to impose any tariffs. According to its new decision, it has given itself a deadline until December 5 to assess both the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases and consider any definitive duties.

The news follows an agreement from the end of July to settle the solar dispute between China and the EU with a price undertaking deal, under which China-made solar equipment will be sold in the EU above fixed floor prices. The companies that accept such minimum prices will not be subject to any anti-dumping levies. Chinese solar exporters that do not participate in the price undertaking will face preliminary punitive tariffs of between 37.2% and 67.9%, as announced in June.

The EC said it is ready to include the anti-subsidy investigation into the undertaking at the definitive stage, "should such action be warranted".

Meanwhile, the European Comission (EC) is conducting an independent anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe into Chinese solar glass, used for the production of solar panels.

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