Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-11-22-Speech-4-074-000"
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"en.20121122.9.4-074-000"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner De Gucht very much regrets not being with you today, despite attempts to hold this debate earlier. He is in Brussels for negotiations with his Canadian counterpart in what we hope will be a conclusive set of talks.
Turning to the oral question at hand, allegations of Chinese unfair trade have been around for a long time, as we know. It is a fact that China accounts for the largest proportion of EU trade defence investigations and of measures imposed. China is Europe’s largest trading partner. Some of the increase in Chinese export volume has been achieved through the use of unfair trade practices such as dumping and subsidisation. As a result, it is not surprising that there should be a relatively large number of trade defence cases involving China.
However, the reason why the spotlight is increasingly on this issue is the size and strategic nature of the sectors now being affected by low-priced Chinese imports. Sectors in which Europe has so far had the upper hand in terms of technological advancement and sophistication are now increasingly facing Chinese competition.
The European Union is the most open market in the world and we welcome competition for its potential to stimulate technological improvements and lower consumer prices. Where competition is unfair, as happens to European companies either because of foreign exports on the EU market, or market access restrictions for EU exports to foreign markets, the Commission has a role to play in accordance with internationally agreed trade rules. So, if European industry brings forward evidence of unfair trade, the Commission will investigate the matter, whether this concerns China or any other trading partner. We have both a duty and a legal obligation to restore the level playing field so that European industry can compete on fair terms, provided that measures are in the overall interest of the Union. This includes an assessment of the possible impact of measures on downstream and upstream industry.
On 6 September this year, the Commission initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar panels from China following a complaint by the European solar panel industry. Two months later, the Commission also initiated an anti-subsidy investigation in relation to the same product. The initial evidence presented by the European industry indicates that Chinese exports of solar panels are sold at dumped and subsidised prices, and imports have increased dramatically at prices which appear to heavily undercut those of EU manufacturers. These investigations cover solar panel imports with a value of more than EUR 20 billion annually – a record value in the history of EU trade defence. The alleged dumping and subsidies will be investigated in line with our legal procedures, in accordance with our WTO obligations.
The European solar panel industry is facing difficult times. To establish to what extent this situation is due to Chinese unfair competition is the very purpose of the ongoing investigations. The oral question put to the Commission by Professor Moreira refers to the fact that the United States imposed definitive anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports of solar panels from China on 7 November – just a few weeks ago. In our investigation, we will examine whether US anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures will lead to a diversion of Chinese exports to the European market. But it has to be borne in mind that US imports from China are around USD 3 billion per year, far lower than the EU’s.
To conclude, the Commission will thoroughly investigate all of the relevant aspects of the case and will, at the latest by June next year, issue its provisional findings. As always, interested parties will be given the opportunity to comment before a definitive conclusion is drawn."@en1
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