Germany rejects EU tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels in bid to avert trade war
Merkel had promised Li Keqiang she would try to head off special duty on Chinese solar panels
Germany told the European Commission yesterday that it rejected a proposal to slap tariffs on Chinese solar panel imports.
"There is, from our point of view, no longer a need for penalties and therefore Germany today after the expiry of the deadline … voted 'no'," Economy Minister Philipp Roesler said in a speech in Berlin attended by Li on the final day of his visit to Germany. "We are against protectionist measures, for open markets and fair competition."
Li welcomed the German move to gain more time, saying it was because Berlin "wanted to hear" China's stance. "This position, that is what binds China with Germany and earns my appreciation," he said.
At a press conference with Li on Sunday, Merkel said she would work over the next six months to solve the dispute.
"I will, as head of the government, advocate that we, at the European level, as quickly as possible have intensive discussions with the Chinese side on the questions at issue," she said.
The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's executive arm, accused China of pricing its solar panels and some mobile telecoms devices too cheaply, prompting Brussels to propose imposing an average 47 per cent special duty on Chinese solar panels by June 5. Brussels is also looking into the telecoms sector.