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Chinese solar panel imports have been hit by a temporary anti-dumping levy by the European Commission across all 27 countries.Although Germany and a handful of other members of the European Union are trying to prevent a trade war from being ignited, the levy was still announced on Tuesday 4 June.Karel de Gucht, the commissioner in the executive arm of the EU, is stating that Chinese businesses are selling solar panels below cost and therefore undercutting its European business rivals of the renewable energy industry. Competition is being damaged by offering them at prices that are lower than manufacturing costs.
The levies will come into effect on Thursday 7 June across all 27 member states of the EU. Set at approximately 11.8% - the duties are actually less than they were first proposed. But they will grow to an average of 47.6% over the course of two months is China does not work out a compromise with the bloc.
If all negotiations cannot find a resolution to this dispute, then the duties will be set into place for 5 years from December 2013.
Karen Hird of Solar & Green, one of the UK’s leading solar panel installation businesses said, “Fortunately we don’t stock solar panels that have been imported from China. We find that their quality is less reputable than the quality that we can find in other manufacturer’s products. For example, the solar panels that we source from Sunpower who are based in California, USA are held in high regard. Their well-built and high-impact. They are designed to convert a high percentage of solar to electricity. We only hear testimonies of admiration for the quality and effectiveness of the Sunpower solar panels.’
“We’ve been installing these solar panels right across the country as they don’t even need a high level of sunshine to be efficient. I cannot image that Chinese made clones are anywhere as near reliable and as competent as the Sunpower products. Also, they should not really be on our market if they aren’t giving other solar panel manufacturers a chance to perform. I’m glad that the Commissioner is protecting the Euro-zone and its commerce.”
According to the European Commision- 21 billion euros of solar panel trade (out of 500 billion total for all trade) is going on between Europe and China. China is said to be quite angry about the tariffs, but with 200 or more anti-dumping actions occurring every year, they are almost an everyday feature in global trade. Chinese made solar panel should be 88% higher than they currently are being sold at. The duties have been set at a level where China has an incentive to negotiate.
Contact Info:
Name: Karen Hird
Email: Send Email
Organization: Solar and Green
Address: The Vestry, Denholme Rd
Phone: 0844 293 40 80
Website: http://www.solarandgreen.co.uk/
Release ID: 15393
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