China urges EU to scrap trade measures against solar panels

China on Wednesday called on the European Union (EU) to stop trade measures against Chinese photovoltaic (PV) imports.

"In the interest of mutual benefits, we hope the EU will completely terminate its anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties as soon as possible to bring the market back on track," Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shen Danyang said at a weekly press conference.

The remarks came after the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission decided to stop its investigation into Chinese solar panels on Oct. 18.

The EU started imposing high tariffs on Chinese solar panels more than three years ago and extended the measures at the end of 2015. But appeals for fewer restrictions in the sector have been on the rise in Europe this year.

Member of the European Parliament Christofer Fjellner said last month the trade defense measures against solar imports from China are a European Commission (EC)-backed cartel, which makes the fight against climate change more expensive.

Hundreds of European companies and environmental organizations have asked the EC to scrap those measures as solar panel prices were driven up and the solar power sector was impeded.

The EU's trade remedy measures have harmed its own PV market, Shen said at the conference.

As significant trade partners, the two sides should focus on and channel more energy into cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as global economic growth and fighting climate change, Shen added. Endi