EU ProSun sends EC list of 150 installers supporting anti-dumping duties

Solar organisation EU ProSun has sent the European Commission (EC) a list of 150 installers that support the extension of the anti-dumping duties on imports of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules made in China.

The campaign group, which is backed by Germany’s SolarWorld (ETR:SWVK), made this move after more than 400 European companies requested that the EC ends the trade duties imposed on Chinese products.

EU ProSun president Milan Nitzschke commented that asking the EC to cancel anti-dumping measures is cynical.

“Anti-dumping rules are fundamental to guarantee a fair level playing field on the EU market. Demanding the termination of the measures is essentially like abolishing doping controls at the Olympic Games," Nitzschke said.

The anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures have been in place since 2012. The EC had also agreed a fixed minimum import price (MIP) with some Chinese manufacturers that sought to avoid duties, but a lot of these companies, including JinkoSolar (NYSE:JKS), JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd (NASDAQ:JASO) and Trina Solar Ltd (NYSE:TSL), eventually withdrew from the MIP agreement.

According to Nitzschke, the allegation that the MIP on PV cells and modules is obstructing the growth of PV installations in the EU is unjustified. He said that investments are declining not because of the price levels, but due to the insecure regulatory environment.

The EC is currently conducting an expiry review into the trade measures. It is due to be concluded by March 2017.

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