EU compromise mooted on antidumping duties on Chinese solar panels
Brussels — The European Commission has softened its proposal to extend antidumping duties on Chinese solar panels, acknowledging opposition from most EU countries, according to a document seen by Reuters. The commission, which oversees EU trade policy, recommends limiting the extension of measures to 18 months, from an original 24, and making clear that this period represents a final phasing out of duties in place since 2013. The proposal will be put to a meeting of the EU’s 28 commissioners on Wednesday, a source said. The commission faces a delicate balancing act between the interests of EU manufacturers and those benefiting from cheap imports with nervousness about the response from Beijing, seen as a possible partner in the fight against protectionism. The EU and China came close to a trade war in 2013 over EU allegations of solar panel dumping by China. To avoid that, they agreed to allow limited tariff-free imports of panels at a minimum price of €0.56 a watt, antidumping duti...
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