EU to investigate Chinese solar dumping

EU trade officials will begin formally investigating Chinese solar panel makers today for potential dumping of energy products onto the European market, Financial Times reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The investigation, the result of a complaint filed in July by Germany’s SolarWorld, represents growing trade tension between the EU and China. During a trip to Beijing last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly told her Chinese host that she would prefer the dispute be resolved through dialogue, signifying the political sensitivity of the case. The case comes to light as China’s Ministry of Commerce reviews a similar complaint against US manufacturers, Bloomberg reported. The ministry will issue preliminary findings as early as November on the case in which four Chinese polysilicon manufacturers accused US companies of dumping the material commonly used in solar panel production.