The EU has formally imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on imports of solar panels from China. Duties will apply for two years.
The European Commission said the imposition of definitive measures needed to be seen in the context of the amicable solution reached with China whereby the final anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duty rates will apply only to those exports from China which do not meet agreed conditions.
The decision came after a 15-month investigation for the anti-dumping case and thirteen month investigation for the anti-subsidy case, launched in September 2012 and November 2012 respectively. During these investigations the Commission found that Chinese companies were selling solar panels in Europe at far below their normal market prices and were receiving illegal subsidies, causing significant harm to EU solar panel producers.