EU slaps tariffs on ‘dumped’ Chinese solar panels

The European Commission adopted levies on Chinese-manufactured solar panels on Tuesday, despite opposition by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and forceful warnings that the move could spark a trade war between the 27-member EU block and Asia’s manufacturing colossus.

“Today, the European Commission has decided unanimously to impose tariffs” on Chinese panels, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht told reporters in Brussels, adding that cheap imports were harming Europe’s clean energy industry and threatening up to 25,000 jobs.

The EU will impose a tariff of 11.8% from June 6 on cells and wafers, but could raise it to around 47% starting in August unless a settlement is reached.

European builders have accused China of unlawfully dumping solar panels on their turf, selling solar panels at up to 88% below their fair price to elbow their European rivals out of the market.

http://www.france24.com/en/20130604-europe-china-tariffs-levies-solar-panels-dumping-trade-merkel-de-gucht?ns_campaign=editorial&ns_source=FB&ns_mchannel=reseaux_sociaux&ns_fee=0&ns_linkname=20130604_europe_china_tariffs_levies_solar_panels

Meanwhile :

China to Investigate E.U. Wine After Subsidy and Dumping Complaints.

HONG KONG — China’s nouveau riche millionaires, affluent princelings and bribe-giving business executives may soon find their wallets a little thinner: The price tag for French Champagne, Italian Barolos and other European wines may soon rise in mainland Chinese stores.

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced Wednesday that it had begun an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation of wines imported from the European Union, which could lead to the imposition of steep tariffs.

The decision came quickly after the European Union’s trade commissioner, Karel De Gucht, announced Tuesday in Brussels that he was imposing preliminary tariffs of 11.8 percent on solar panels imported from China. But the Chinese ministry carefully avoided linking the solar panels to the wine dispute in its announcement, saying instead that it was acting in response to a complaint from Chinese wineries.

The ministry issued a separate statement to express its “resolute opposition” to the solar panel decision. “We hope the E.U. will further show their sincerity and show flexibility, through consultations to find mutually acceptable solutions,” the statement said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/business/global/china-to-investigate-eu-wine-after-subsidy-and-dumping-complaints.html?_r=0