EU Commission secure minimum price and volume on Chinese solar panel imports

Planned EU curbs on Chinese solar panels would last less than half as long as normal trade protection, marking a victory not just for China but for Germany, the UK, and other free-market proponents in the EU’s biggest dispute of its kind.

European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said yesterday the agreement he sealed with China over the weekend setting a minimum price and a volume limit on EU imports of Chinese solar panels will expire at the end of 2015.

Chinese manufacturers that take part would be spared EU tariffs meant to counter below-cost sales, a practice known as dumping.