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UK votes no to anti-dumping duties

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Government and industry joined forces in Brussels yesterday to make clear the UK’s opposition to anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panels.

The STA joined climate change minister Greg Barker, along with representatives from DECC, BIS and several solar businesses, to explain to European Commission officials the damage it says the duties would inflict on the UK solar industry.

Today is the deadline for responses to the ‘Consultation of Member States on the Commission’s proposals to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on solar products from China’. The STA says it welcomes the UK government’s vote against anti-dumping duties in response to this consultation today.

The STA has already written to trade commissioner Karel de Gucht urging the Commission not to impose anti-dumping duties. The letter has now been signed by 15 European trade associations across 12 countries, showing the growing breadth of the campaign against the proposed duties.

STA ceo, Paul Barwell, said: “Yesterday we showed the Commission the damage their proposals are already causing for the UK solar industry. Jobs, growth and carbon and renewables targets will be at risk if these duties are applied on the 05 June. The UK is voting ‘NO’ to duties today, which is great news, and we are confident there will be many other countries voting the same way.”