Solar protective measures to hurt Sino-EU ties

The European Union is reportedly planning emergency support measures, including an anti-dumping probe, for Europe's solar panel manufacturing industry to counter what it considers a flood of cheap Chinese imports.

Four European factories have shut down or announced plans to do so in recent weeks mainly due to increasing Chinese competition, prompting calls from the sector to "deal with the Chinese threat". The European Solar Manufacturing Council warned that the bulk of Europe's manufacturers — which were already "on the brink" — could be shut within three months if no emergency actions are taken.

It is not uncommon for some European policymakers to blame China for the industrial woes that Europe faces during the energy transition process. Should any safeguard measures be put into place against Chinese solar power companies, it would be the second time that Europe resorted to trade protectionism after the EU initiated an anti-subsidy investigation last October into imports of Chinese electric vehicles.