EU regulator probes dumping of Chinese solar panels

The European Union (EU) regulator today launched an anti-dumping probe against Chinese solar panel producers based on a complaint filed by a European solar industry association.

In the biggest-ever anti-dumping claim filed with the European Commission (EC), EU Pro Sun, an industry association representing more than 20 European companies and led by Germany's SolarWorld have complained that Chinese solar panel manufacturers have been selling their products at below market value in the EU.

China is the world's largest producer of solar panels with around 65 per cent of all solar panels produced in China. The EU is China's main export market, accounting for around 80 per cent of all Chinese export sales.

Brussels-based EC said in a statement that in 2011 China exported solar panels and associated key components worth around €21 billion ($26.5 billion) to the 27-nation EU.

The EU Pro Sun has brought sufficient evidence to support its allegations, including possible price dumping by the Chinese solar panel exporters on the EU market, injury suffered by the industry association members, and a possible causal link between the dumped imports and the injury suffered by the EU industry.

Chinese producers led by Yingli Green Energy, Suntech Power Holdings, Trina Solar and Canadian Solar, had in July warned of a trade war and urged its government to retaliate against the potential investigation.