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| Half of EU members 'oppose China solar tariffs' | Half of EU members 'oppose China solar tariffs' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK and Germany are among at least 14 European Union members opposed to punitive tariffs on Chinese solar panel imports, according to diplomats. | The UK and Germany are among at least 14 European Union members opposed to punitive tariffs on Chinese solar panel imports, according to diplomats. |
| The revelation, made on Monday, shows a split among the EU bloc's 27 members. | The revelation, made on Monday, shows a split among the EU bloc's 27 members. |
| The European Commission - the EU's executive arm - argues that Chinese firms are unfairly undercutting rivals. | The European Commission - the EU's executive arm - argues that Chinese firms are unfairly undercutting rivals. |
| It claimed China was pressuring members to oppose the duties, a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel hinted in favour of a negotiated agreement. | It claimed China was pressuring members to oppose the duties, a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel hinted in favour of a negotiated agreement. |
| France and Italy are among those in favour of the duties while Germany, the UK and the Netherlands are in the opposite camp, according to Reuters, citing diplomats. | France and Italy are among those in favour of the duties while Germany, the UK and the Netherlands are in the opposite camp, according to Reuters, citing diplomats. |
| One source, who asked not to be named, told the AFP agency that 17 member states "have come out in opposition". | One source, who asked not to be named, told the AFP agency that 17 member states "have come out in opposition". |
| "In view of this considerable opposition, it is clear that the European Commission must step up efforts to find a negotiated solution," the person said. | "In view of this considerable opposition, it is clear that the European Commission must step up efforts to find a negotiated solution," the person said. |
| 'Chinese pressure' | |
| Following high-level talks on Sunday between the German leader and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht met with China's vice-minister of commerce Zhong Shan for informal talks on Monday. | Following high-level talks on Sunday between the German leader and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht met with China's vice-minister of commerce Zhong Shan for informal talks on Monday. |
| Mr De Gucht is proposing levies averaging 47% on the panels, arguing they are being sold below cost and therefore damaging competition. | Mr De Gucht is proposing levies averaging 47% on the panels, arguing they are being sold below cost and therefore damaging competition. |
| The provisional duties are expected to take effect from 6 June for a period of time until December during which they could be blocked if both sides reach a negotiated settlement. | The provisional duties are expected to take effect from 6 June for a period of time until December during which they could be blocked if both sides reach a negotiated settlement. |
| The anti-dumping case is the biggest ever undertaken by the Commission, and affects 21bn euros (£18bn) worth of Chinese-made solar panels sold in the EU. | The anti-dumping case is the biggest ever undertaken by the Commission, and affects 21bn euros (£18bn) worth of Chinese-made solar panels sold in the EU. |
| The Commission said China was pressuring some EU countries to oppose the tariffs. | The Commission said China was pressuring some EU countries to oppose the tariffs. |
| "Commissioner De Gucht ... made it very clear to the Vice-Minister that he was aware of the pressure being exerted by China on a number of EU member states, which explains why they are positioning themselves as they are in their advisory positions towards the European Commission," the Commission said in a statement. | "Commissioner De Gucht ... made it very clear to the Vice-Minister that he was aware of the pressure being exerted by China on a number of EU member states, which explains why they are positioning themselves as they are in their advisory positions towards the European Commission," the Commission said in a statement. |
| German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler on Monday said after a meeting with Mr Li: "There is no need for more sanction measures." | German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler on Monday said after a meeting with Mr Li: "There is no need for more sanction measures." |
| 'Balanced relationship' | 'Balanced relationship' |
| Germany's latest position is an about-face from its initial support for Mr De Gucht's proposed duties, as it was a German company, Solar World, which first raised the complaint against China. | Germany's latest position is an about-face from its initial support for Mr De Gucht's proposed duties, as it was a German company, Solar World, which first raised the complaint against China. |
| On Sunday Mrs Merkel and said she wanted to reach an agreement with China over import tariffs in order to avoid triggering a damaging trade war. | On Sunday Mrs Merkel and said she wanted to reach an agreement with China over import tariffs in order to avoid triggering a damaging trade war. |
| She said that Germany would work for the issues to be resolved as quickly as possible because she did not believe that tariffs would help either side. | She said that Germany would work for the issues to be resolved as quickly as possible because she did not believe that tariffs would help either side. |
| And Mr Li has warned that any attempt to impose tariffs would be seen as protectionist and ultimately hurt consumers. | And Mr Li has warned that any attempt to impose tariffs would be seen as protectionist and ultimately hurt consumers. |
| French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg on Monday said: "We want to see a balanced relationship between China and the European Union." | French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg on Monday said: "We want to see a balanced relationship between China and the European Union." |
| "Countries that use protectionism, and China is one of them, should accept reciprocal rules," he told reporters. | "Countries that use protectionism, and China is one of them, should accept reciprocal rules," he told reporters. |
| Separately, the EU is also investigating subsidies provided to China's telecoms sector. | Separately, the EU is also investigating subsidies provided to China's telecoms sector. |