EU still impose tariffs on Chinese solar imports despite - SolarStar

Speaking to the influential European Parliament trade committee, De Gucht  went so far as to call Chinese efforts “a waste of time,” reports Reuters.

“They (the Chinese) are not going to impress me by putting pressure on member states,” De Gucht said. “I could not care less whether that happens with... the biggest and most populous state in the world. For me it is the same. So they can try to put pressure on member states, but they will waste their time trying to do so with me.”

EU Commissioners have proposed import duties ranging from 37.2 to 67.9% on crystalline silicon modules, cells and wafers imported from China. EU member states have been voting on the proposals over the last few weeks, and a preliminary decision on tariffs is scheduled to come into force by June 6. A final decision on import duties is not expected until early December.

Earlier this week, it was reported that 17 of the 27 EU member states had voted against imposing punitive tariffs on Chinese solar imports.