The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) will investigate certain Taiwan-based PV makers suspected of helping China-based PV module makers evade the EU's minimum import price and import quota, according to PV industry sources in Taiwan.
The EU and the China government in 2013 reached a consensus of setting a minimum import price of EUR0.57 (US$0.76)/W and an annual import quota of 7GWp in lieu of imposing anti-dumping and anti-subsidization tariffs on China-made PV modules. The EU lowered the minimum import price to EUR0.53/W in 2014.
However, Germany-based SolarWorld AG has filed a complaint with the EU, accusing some China-based PV module makers of presenting false country of origin certificates provided by Taiwan-, Malaysia- and Japan-based PV makers or stealthily offering Europe-based importers prices below EUR0.53/W to evade the import restrictions, the sources indicated.
In response to the complaint, the OLAF under the European Commission will launch a probe into suspected Taiwan-based PV makers, the sources said.
