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Reporters in China were yesterday invited to a press conference where spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Shen Danyang, called for prudency from the European Union regarding rumoured action against Chinese solar manufacturers. According to China.org, Danyang insisted that MOFCOM were keeping a close eye on developments in the EU following complaints issued by SolarWorld to enact tariffs on Chinese exports. Danyang said that EU firms would be just as prone to financial loss in the event of any action against Chinese companies.
"We do not want such a win-win situation being undermined or damaged," stressed Danyang. "Faced with such a grave world economic situation, we think that China and the EU should enhance policy coordination and refrain from using trade protection measures." The spokesman described the allegations as "groundless".
He added that China has so far imported a total of 40 billion yuan (US$6.3 billion) worth of equipment to produce solar modules, with 45% purchased from Europe.
"If the EU restricts Chinese photovoltaic products, it will harm the overall development of solar companies within the EU," he said.
SolarWorld lead a coalition of unidentified US solar companies to launch an attack against Chinese importers of solar goods into the country resulting in the imposition of punitive tariffs last month by the US Department of Commerce.
China has already launched retaliatory measures in the form of petitioning the World Trade Organization to penalize six renewable energy initiatives in the US that it believes is flouting WTO rules on subsidies and countervailing measures in addition to the 1994 GATT Agreement. Last week it was also reported that GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and Daqo New Energy Corp. are demanding that MOFCOM bear down on US manufacturers as the US Department on Commerce did to Asian manufacturers.
