Most countries oppose increasing tariffs on Chinese glass fiber

European Union diplomats said on Wednesday (25th) that several EU member states are opposed to the EU's plan to levy a new tax on China's glass fiber. They will exert their best efforts to put pressure on the European Commission on Thursday (26th).

At present, the EU imposes a 7% tariff on Chinese imports. If the new tax plan is implemented, this means that China's glass fiber tax rate will increase to 50.6%. It is reported that the European Commission can wait until March 2011 to launch anti-dumping duties, but plans to start trials from September 16 at the latest.

As glass fibers are being used in cleantech fields, EU countries rely on cheap and tough glass fiber materials produced by China in the manufacture of wind turbine blades, light vehicles, hulls and trains. Raising tariffs will endanger the European cleantech sector. Therefore, at the request of Germany, the EU Trade Commission will hold a special meeting to discuss whether the Executive Committee should implement a plan to impose a 43.6% tariff on China's glass fiber.

Diplomats said that most EU countries will oppose this motion on Thursday, including Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Although in the case of the Executive Committee can not be supported by any Member State is still bent, but if the majority of members of opposition, or may prompt it to abandon or modify the plan, in March next year to make its final decision on the tariffs, they need to get support.