EU solar panel tariffs against China take effect tomorrow

Ssettlement with China still possible, however.

The European Union imposed tariffs as high as 67.9% on solar panels from China to punish Chinese manufacturers of solar panels for allegedly selling them in the EU below cost.

The European Commission said producers have suffered significant harm as a result of dumped imports from China. It said 25,000 jobs in EU solar-production would likely be lost without the import taxes.

European trade commissioner Karel De Gucht said the EC’s action was an emergency measure to give life-saving oxygen to a business sector in Europe that is suffering badly from this dumping.

The levies were published today in the EU’s official journal and will take effect on June 6 at an initial lower rate of 11.8%. The tariffs will be for six months and may be prolonged for five years.

The trade protection covers EU imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels, and cells and wafers used in them. De Gucht said the initially lower duty rate of 11.8% will last for two months and is an incentive for China to sit down for talks.

After August 6, unless an accord is reached, the provisional levies will range from 37.2% to 67.9%, depending on the Chinese company. Those duties would average 47.6%, according to the commission.