Solar import duties

As of March 5, 2013, all Chinese photovoltaic modules and their main components coming into EU must register with national custom authorities. Such preliminary measure was introduced in order to allow application of custom duties on imports with effect since March 5, even though the EU has not got final approval from the WTO.

Anti-dumping import tariff EU intends to impose amounts to 47%. The EC argues that China unfairly subsidizes its photovoltaic producers and puts European manufacturers at a disadvantage.

Not all European PV producers support the EU policy. Some say protective measures are poisonous and might jeopardize around 70.000 jobs in medium-sized companies in Germany alone.

EC’s official investigation on dumping behavior is only nine-months into its 15-months duration. There is however a probability of imposing import tariff should EC consider clear evidences of companies across Europe being harmed.

The EC must determine by June 6 whether provisional anti-dumping duties should be applied to crystalline silicon photovoltaic products. A final decision will not be made before the end of the year. However, if final duties are applied, the World Trade Organization (WTO) could backdate them to March 5.
At this stage, it is critical for all importers to comply with registration duty with its national custom authorities. The full wording of applicable EU may be found under the following link: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:061:0002:0005:EN:PDF

Should you had any questions or requested more details with respect to the matter of PV imports to EU, please contact Tomas Zacha, partner and head of Energy team in Konecna & Zacha.