Recently, the European Union has sent a clear signal that it will not impose tariffs on Chinese solar modules, a decision seen as a "friendly" gesture by the EU to China's solar industry. At the meeting of energy ministers in Brussels, EU member states discussed the challenges and countermeasures of the European PV industry and reached a consensus to increase support for the local solar industry, while maintaining an open attitude towards Chinese solar modules.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said firmly in his pre-meeting statement: "We will not close our borders. She highlighted the enormous benefits that cheap solar modules bring to Europe, noting that Europe needs to ensure that all people have access to the necessary products as it meets its climate goals. This position echoes the European Solar Charter, jointly proposed by EU Internal Market Commissioners, which aims to protect the European wind industry from unfair competition, while not ruling out dependence on Chinese solar modules.
Previously, German Economy Minister Habeck and others had expressed concern about the influx of solar modules in China, fearing that it could have an impact on the local industry in Europe. However, the European Commission's decision clearly alleviates this concern. Still, some industry associations representing European solar module producers have complained about this, advocating for a second round of anti-dumping duties and threatening to consider relocating production to the United States if no action is taken. In fact, Meyer Burger, Europe's largest PV manufacturer, has announced the closure of its factory in Germany and plans to move production to the United States.
At the same time, industry associations representing the first business welcomed the EU's decision. They believe that disputes are not the key to solving problems, but more important is to make full use of existing policy measures to enhance their competitiveness. Dris Acker, policy director of the European Solar Energy Industry Association, pointed out that the association's members, which include both European and Chinese companies, want to see a fair and open market environment.
Germany's PV magazine pointed out in the report that two important messages from the EU energy ministers' meeting are: on the one hand, the EU hopes to take swift measures to support the domestic photovoltaic industry; On the other hand, import duties are not taken into account. A statement from Germany's economy ministry also stressed that Europe's dependence on Chinese solar modules imports is "huge" and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
As European countries** seek to strengthen their support for their homegrown solar industry, some countries have already begun to take action. Countries such as France have set targets to support EU companies through various means, including setting a share of state-funded tenders. These initiatives aim to increase the competitiveness of the European solar industry while maintaining an open market for Chinese solar modules.
It is worth noting that more and more Chinese companies have also begun to build solar module factories in the United States to take advantage of the financial support provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. This trend has caused outrage among the Republican Party in the United States and put Biden in a delicate position. However, the success of Chinese companies in the global solar market is already an indisputable fact. They have established a strong market position on a global scale with their efficient, large-scale production capabilities and superior product quality.
In conclusion, the EU's decision to abandon the tax on Chinese solar modules will bring new opportunities and challenges to the global solar market. In this open and competitive market environment, Chinese companies are expected to continue to maintain their leading position and promote the sustainable development of the global solar industry. At the same time, Europe** needs to take more proactive steps to support the development of local industries to meet energy transition and climate goals.