I agree with Maurice Mizzi’s argumentation about the European Union’s duties on Chinese solar panels (The Sunday Times of Malta, May 26). At the time of writing this letter the EU is planning to tighten its restrictions on products imported from China.

Such proliferating import duties are not consonant with the EU’s stance on fair competition. Falling costs of raw materials, low wages and salaries coupled with the Chinese unrivalled ability to apply economies of scale have translated in lower prices for their finished products.

These factors have narrowed manufacturing margins and cut solar power generation costs for consumers. Drops in prices also follow significant advances in technology and increased demand worldwide, including Malta.

Unfortunately, the EU’s proposal of putting punitive import duties on Chinese solar panels together with the imposition of the anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders may lead to increases in the prices of such products.