European firms oppose EU tariffs on Chinese solar panels

The EU decision to impose duties on Chinese solar panel products has been taken despite warnings from many European solar companies and organizations.

They say the tariffs will harm not only the European solar industry, but the European economy as well. The Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy has issued a petition appealing to halt the tariff. It says it "regrets the Commission's decision to ignore the considered positions of 18 out of 27 member states voting against duties." Its Chairman also said the duties would put a halt to most of the PV projects in the EU and cause severe damage to the European solar value chain.

While the World Wide Fund for Nature says the plan for making renewable energy account for 20 percent of total energy in Europe by 2020 will not be reached due to the tariffs. It also added that 240,000 jobs in Europe would be lost.