China, EU reach deal in solar panel dispute

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Europe Union and Chinese solar panel exporters said Saturday, July 27, that they had reached a settlement in their long trade dispute, with the exporters agreeing to sell their products at a minimum price in the EU market, The Associated Press reported.

The settlement comes after negotiations that began in June when the EU announced that duties averaging 47 percent on Chinese-made solar panels, cells and wafers would come into effect in August. The EU said then that China was selling its products in the EU market at below-cost prices and harming the European solar panel industry.

In announcing the settlement of one of the biggest-ever China-Europe trade disputes, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said that he was satisfied with the offer by the Chinese solar panel exporters and that the agreement would stabilize the European solar panel market.

"We have found an amicable solution that will result in a new equilibrium on the European solar panel market at a sustainable price level," he said.

The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products said in a statement that the price promise represents the majority will of Chinese companies and that it would allow Chinese companies to continue to export their products to Europe and retain fair market shares.

Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said China welcomed the settlement.

The EU is the largest export market for Chinese solar panel products, according to Shen.