EU levies duties of up to 42% on China-made solar glass

Nov 28, 2013 - The European Union (EU) on Wednesday imposed provisional duties of up to 42.1% on solar glass coming from China, effective November 28.

The tariffs, ranging from 17.1% to 42.1%, were introduced as a measure against unfair competition, aimed at protecting European solar glass producers from Chinese rivals selling the product at below market prices. They are also the result of the EC's anti-dumping investigation into Chinese solar glass imports in February, that followed a complaint from European association EU ProSun Glass.

The levies will be in force for six months and could be extended for five years. The EU’s 28 member countries are expected to take a final decision on the levies by May 27.

The solar glass market in the EU is valued at less than EUR 200 million. Chinese exporters have boosted their share of the EU solar glass market to 28.8% in 2012 from 6.2% in 2009.

Following months of investigations over alleged subsidies to Chinese solar-cell and panel makers and dumping practices, the EU and China in August agreed to a price undertaking deal, which sets minimum fixed prices for China-made solar equipment to be sold in the EU. Chinese solar exporters that do not participate in the price undertaking are facing preliminary punitive tariffs of between 37.2% and 67.9% for their imports to the EU.

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