EU says China gave illegal aid to solar industry

EurActiv reported on the ongoing trade dispute between China and the European Union relating to the importation of solar panels into the EU. The European Commission had launched an anti-subsidy investigation in November 2012 and an anti-dumping investgation in June 2013.

EurActiv reported Commission sources saying that evidence of illegal subsidies had been found but that the Commission would delay taking action following a July 2013 deal to defuse the row.

Wary of offending China's leaders and losing business in the world's second largest economy, the UK and German governments had argued that concerns about Chinese solar dumping were secondary to the much larger EU-China trade relationship.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Collapse of solar case against China sparks recriminations http://www.europeansources.info/record/collapse-of-solar-case-against-china-sparks-recriminations/

ESO: Background information: European Commission continues anti-subsidy investigation on solar panels from China without duties http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commission-continues-anti-subsidy-investigation-on-solar-panels-from-china-without-duties/

ESO: Background information: Cooler heads prevail in EU, China trade row over wine and solar panels http://www.europeansources.info/record/cooler-heads-prevail-in-eu-china-trade-row-over-wine-and-solar-panels/

ESO: Background information: EU and China reach deal in solar panel dispute http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-and-china-reach-deal-in-solar-panel-dispute/

ESO: Background Information: Press Release: EU imposes provisional anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese solar panels http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-imposes-provisional-anti-dumping-tariffs-on-chinese-solar-panels/

ECFR: China Analysis, June 2013: Solar panel: A crisis 'made in China' http://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/china_analysis_solar_panels

European Commission: DG Trade: Policy: Accessing markets: Trade defence: Anti-dumping http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/accessing-markets/trade-defence/actions-against-imports-into-the-eu/anti-dumping/

European Commission: DG Trade: Policy: Countries and Regions: China http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/china/

Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, 23.10.13; Brussels cracks under pressure (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/4262471-brussels-cracks-under-pressure

European Commission: DG Trade: News Archive: Press Release, 22.10.13: EU and China to hold high-level economic and trade talks http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=977

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 12.11.13: The dispute between China and the EU over solar panels illustrates the misunderstandings that have plagued EU-China relations http://bit.ly/1bnRr8j

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