Europe proposes extension to minimum pricing for Chinese solar
The European Commission has decided to extend existing trade duties on Chinese solar products for another two years, prompting mixed reactions from across the solar sector. Milan Nitzschke, president of Solar World-backed trade group EU ProSun, supported the decision, but said it would have been "preferable" for the levies to extend beyond two years. In contrast, Oliver Schaefer, president of SolarPower Europe, said opening interim reviews on import pricing was "tinkering at the edges of a profound issue" in Europe. A final decision on the extension will be made in March 2017.
The European Commission has proposed the extension of existing trade duties on Chinese solar products for a further two years.

A final decision on the extension is required before the end of March 2017 and needs the approval of member states.

“We do not believe this is the correct approach to growing a sustainable solar sector in Europe, and we will look to the Member States to redress some of the inaccuracies reported,” said Oliver Schaefer president of SolarPower Europe. “Opening ex-officio interim reviews on the minimum import price mechanism is simply tinkering at the edges of a profound issue of European-wide importance.”

EU ProSun, the SolarWorld-backed trade group supporting European manufacturers welcomed the decision but said it would have preferred a longer extension.

“In order to avoid unreasonable bureaucratic efforts, increase predictability and create more certainty for investments it would be preferable to extend the periodic validity of the measures by far more than two years,” said Milan Nitzschke, president of EU ProSun and VP at SolarWorld.

The Commission is required to enforce duties when it finds evidence of unfair trade practices. With a larger base of jobs in deployment than manufacturing, SolarPower Europe and other industry groups have argued that forcing the price of solar goods upwards was not in the best interests of the European Union. Many trade unions and manufacturing groups argue that unfair trade can not be tolerated in the pursuit of free trade.