6 Nov 2012

WTO complaint over solar panels filed by China

6:10 am on 6 November 2012

China has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against subsidies provided by some governments in Europe to solar panel makers there.

In September, the EU began an inquiry to dumping of solar panels by Chinese manufacturers.

Last month, the United States said it would increase tariffs on solar cells imported from China.

The Commerce Department said the rise was specifically designed to offset subsidies that China pays its own solar manufacturers.

The BBC reports the EU is one of the biggest markets for China's solar panels and components, which were worth nearly 21 billion euros ($US27 billion) last year.