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SolarWorld confirms EU dumping case

SolarWorld has confirmed to pv magazine that an anti-dumping complaint has been filed by a consortium of European manufacturers with the European Commission. More information is expected to be released by the Bonn-based company this afternoon.

The EC must now decide whether it will open the case.

Sandra Enkhardt/Solarpraxis

According to a report in today’s edition of Germany’s Handelsblatt, around 25 photovoltaic companies from the European solar industry are backing the new EU initiative, ProSun. They claim massive competition distortions have occurred due to dumping and subsidies.

"The Chinese companies were supplied with multi-billion dollar loans and, despite massive losses, offered their products at prices below production costs," SolarWorld spokesman, Milan Nitzschke told the paper.

As reported yesterday, EU Trade Commissioner, Karel de Gucht has 45 days from the time of the filing – said to have been made on Tuesday, July 24 – to decide whether to initiate investigations. A preliminary judgment is expected to be made no later than 2013 and punitive tariffs could apply retroactively, as is the case in the U.S.

Translated and edited by Becky Beetz.