Legal

EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht gave a speech in Boston at the weekend about the planned EU-U.S. trade talks, which could have an impact on the Transatlantic, and wider, solar industry.

The European Commission (EC) has officially launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar glass from China into the EU. Provisional duties could be imposed within nine months, while the investigation could take up to 15 months to complete.

According to reports, it is likely that Chinese photovoltaic modules imported into Europe will have to register with European customs from this March, meaning the option to backdate any duties would exist. The aim is to stop importers bulk buying modules before any duties are applied.

Japanese thin film manufacturer Solar Frontier is capitalizing on the country’s solar boom and is focusing on becoming a downstream business leader and provider of “full turnkey solutions” in the country. The company has also begun to reduce the losses of the business unit of which it is a part.

A report produced by independent analysts Prognos and released today, has shown that employment in the solar sector in Europe would decrease on the back of tariffs being applied to Chinese-made solar cells and modules. The study sees tariffs shrinking the European PV market.

ProSun has rejected the findings of the AFASE-sponsored report on the Sino/EU PV trade case, which was presented today in Brussels. ProSun has argued that fair competition, “is beneficial to everybody.”

The WTO (World Trade Organization) recently ruled that the local content requirement within Ontario’s FIT program violates global trade rules. Ontario has already appealed the decision, but now Japan and the EU are counter appealing.

The Indian solar market appeared to have some momentum until it initiated an anti-dumping investigation against China, Malaysia, Taiwan and the U.S. For a solar market still in its infancy, starting a trade war could become a costly distraction when the focus should be to encourage new technologies, competition and free markets.

A Cambridge-based developer of a pay-as-you-go photovoltaic system for sub-Saharan Africa has secured a £1 million (US$1.6 million) “working capital loan” to roll out its systems to 30,000 off-grid households.

The U.S. has requested World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement consultations with the Indian Government regarding India’s solar photovoltaic domestic content requirements (DCR). Industry association SEIA has come out in support of the move.