EU to settle Chinese solar panels case in March: Report

A worker arranges wires on solar panels at a photovoltaic plant in Yiyang county, Central China's Henan province, Aug 27, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) is expected to settle down the trade dispute case regarding China's solar panels on March 3, EU news website EurActiv reported on Tuesday.

The EU is considering shortening the extension of anti-dumping duties after receiving resistance from member states, according to the report.

The EU started imposing high tariffs on Chinese solar panels more than three years ago and extended the trade measures at the end of 2015. But appeals for fewer restrictions in the sector have been on the rise in Europe.

A majority of EU countries in January opposed an initial plan from the European Commission, the bloc's executive body, of extending trade measures for another two years.

Media reports said that the Commission was considering limiting the extension of measures to 18 months.

China's Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the EU to end trade measures against Chinese solar exports, saying it would harm interests of both sides to extend the measures.

The ministry earlier said the growth pace of clean energy has been dragged down in Europe after European countries slashed subsidies on solar panels and set minimum import price.

Hundreds of European companies and environmental organizations have asked the Commission to scrap those measures as solar panel prices were driven up and the solar power sector was impeded.

"It is time for the Commission to let anti-dumping duties and its 'price undertaking' on Chinese solar panels expire," said Christofer Fjellner, a Swedish member of the European Parliament.

"Only that way can we have credibility in our ambitions and policies for openness to trade and fighting climate change in an effective and cost-efficient manner," Fjellner was quoted as saying by EU website Borderlex.

China and the EU went through major disputes on trade measures on solar panels imported from China before reaching deals on a minimum import price and a quota set for Chinese imports in 2013.