Why did the EU's photovoltaics to China harder?

The EU once again launched an anti-circumvention investigation of China's PV products. The reporter confirmed the news from the person in charge of the Electrical and Mechanical Chamber of Commerce. People in the industry believe that the survey is just a continuation of previous anti-dumping measures in Europe and the United States. It also prepares for the sunset review and hopes that China-EU price commitment can continue.

Seeing that the China-Europe PV price agreement is about to expire at the end of the year, China's PV companies will usher in a respite. However, media reports recently stated that the EU has also launched an anti-circumvention investigation of China's PV products. The reporter also confirmed the news from the person in charge of the Electrical and Mechanical Chamber of Commerce.

This may have the following consequences: Some Chinese companies were found to have violated the previously agreed "price commitment" between China and Europe, and were subject to EU punitive tariff sanctions before the end of this year. People in the industry believe that the survey is just a continuation of previous anti-dumping measures in Europe and the United States. It also prepares for the sunset review and hopes that China-EU price commitment can continue. Based on the expansion of a diversified market, Chinese PV companies should take this opportunity to strengthen global collaboration and upgrade product quality.

Twisting

It is understood that this time to promote the EU launched an "anti-circumvention investigation" against China Photovoltaic, is the initiator of the European Union's "double reaction" - the European Photovoltaic Manufacturers Association. It complained to the European Commission that Chinese PV companies have been passing through third places such as Malaysia and selling their products to Europe to evade tariffs. "This survey is mainly directed at products exported through Malaysia and Taiwan to see if there are any circumvention of price commitments or tariffs through re-export trade, etc. But according to what we understand with companies that have made price agreements, companies have not Such operation.” Chen Huiqing, director of the legal services department of the Electrical and Mechanical Commerce Chamber, told the International Business Daily.

In fact, in recent years, there have been continuous disputes between China and the EU on bilateral photovoltaic trade. In August 2013, the China-EU dispute on photovoltaic trade settled with a price commitment. But since then, the accusations that Chinese companies have violated price commitments have continued. In a document released in March this year, the European Commission proposed to remove the names of Yanhui Sunshine, Zhong Sheng Optoelectronics and Artes Solar from the China-European minimum price for photovoltaic components (MIP), and that their actions have violated the MIP. protocol.

Chen Huiqing confirmed that the anti-circumvention investigation was formally initiated on May 29. “We have informed relevant companies about the situation, and we will answer the situation at any time. If there are relevant situations in the company, we hope to actively cooperate with the investigation. If it does not exist, we also want to clarify the situation,” she said.

The relevant person in charge of the Polaris Solar PV Network told the International Business Daily that the intention of launching an anti-circumvention investigation is obvious, which is the continuation of the anti-dumping case. He believes that this anti-circumvention investigation may lead domestic PV companies to set up production bases in third countries, effectively dividing the proportion of Chinese-made components in the international market, and at the same time it will also speed up the traditional export-oriented component manufacturers to rely more on the domestic market.

Positive response

Regarding the impact of this anti-circumvention investigation, Chen Huiqing said that through the development in recent years, China's photovoltaic industry has emerged from its predicament and matured. Compared with two years ago, it has already had enough power to cope with this kind of trade dispute. “Now the impact is not as great as the original, because the export structure and the major markets of the company have all changed.” “The price commitment is a trade model that both China and the EU can accept. The anti-circumvention investigation is only aimed at individual companies and the impact is limited.” The relevant person in charge of the network said.

However, as the solution previously agreed between the European Commission and Chinese PV manufacturers will expire in December of this year, the European Photovoltaic Manufacturers Association stated that it will seek extension before it expires, and the “expiry review” requirements put forward by the Association may be It will begin in September this year.

Therefore, compared with the anti-circumvention investigation itself, the industry seems to be more concerned about whether the price commitment will be postponed.

According to Chen Huiqing, before the expiration of the "price pledge" between China and the EU, the European Commission will review the implementation (also known as the "sunset review"), which will determine whether the "price pledge" will be extended or withdrawn. She said that it does not rule out the use of relevant materials obtained by the “anti-circumvention investigation” as an excuse to prompt the European Commission to make a decision to extend the “price commitment” at the end of the year. The industry generally believes that if the "price commitment" that has been implemented for three years is continued to be extended, it will lead to further weakened competitiveness of China's photovoltaic products in the European market.

In response, the relevant person in charge of the photovoltaic network suggested that China's module companies must be familiar with international trade rules, and should be flexibly used in the actual export process, making full use of the advantages of trade liberalization and investment liberalization implemented by the EU, and Worldwide configuration. At the same time, we must pay attention to the frontier of the photovoltaic industry, master relevant patented technologies and intellectual property achievements, and upgrade the level of our own component products.