The European Commission (EC) has extended its punitive import tariffs and price controls on solar panels from China that were originally due on Dec. 7.
The expiry review means that the import tariffs could remain in place for several more years, and possibly, until 2020.
The EC says it will undertake two expiry reviews into anti-dumping and countervailing measures as well as an interim review as to whether cells should remain subject to the tariffs.
The U.K.-based Solar Trade Association has expressed disappointment with the move, which it says will continue to artificially inflate the price of solar unnecessarily. However, the European Union can now, as part of its proceedings, officially consider whether the import duties are doing the European solar industry more harm than good, which the Solar Trade Association hopes will help bring the tariffs to an end.
‘These price controls on imports of Chinese solar panels need to be dropped,’ says Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association. ‘Europe is currently paying far more than it should for its solar – and that applies both to our homeowners and our governments.’
