The European Union (EU) has ended an investigation without changing the minimum import pricing previously agreed on for China-produced PV modules, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.
The EU in 2013 imposed antitrust tariffs on China-based PV module makers, but later reached an agreement with China to set an import quota and a minimum import price for China-produced PV modules in lieu of the antitrust tariffs, with many China-based makers accepting the minimum import price based on the Bloomberg average international price for PV modules, the ministry indicated.
However, in 2015 Europe-based makers accused China-based competitors of deliberately quoting low prices at Bloomberg to bring down the average pricing, which effectively resulted in lowering the EU minimum import price. The Europe makers requested the EU exclude China makers' quotes from the Bloomberg reference when adjusting the minimum import price, the ministry noted.
The EU, which had acted upon the Europe makers' request, has concluded the changes in China-based PV module makers' quotes have been in line with the international pricing trend and therefore the Bloomberg reference can reflect the actual international pricing for PV modules, the ministry indicated.
