EU to lift tariff on Chinese light bulbs

The European Union announced it would remove a 66% antidumping duty on Chinese-made low-power light bulbs, citing ongoing efforts to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions, AP reported. German company Osram protested the move, saying below-cost light bulbs hurt European manufacturers, as eco-friendly bulbs made in China can cost as little as one-third of what European-made bulbs cost. EU spokesman Peter Power dismissed Osram's complaints as biased and not representative of the industry at large, since a removal of the tariff would stand to benefit other companies like competitor Philips, which makes more light bulbs in China than Osram. Low-power bulbs will soon be mandatory in EU countries, but consumers have so far been slow to buy them as they are expensive.