EU agrees to duties on China solar panels

The European Commission has agreed to impose punitive import duties on solar panels from China. The move is to protect against what it sees as Chinese dumping of goods in Europe.

Two officials confirmed EU Trade Chief Karel De Gucht's proposal to levy the provisional duties by June 6th. Trade specialists from EU countries will be consulted on May 15th at a meeting in Brussels, and are expected to back the decision.

Officials said the EU duties will be set at an average of 47 percent. EU producers say Chinese companies captured more than 80 percent of the European market in 2011.