After extending its investigation into European polysilicon by six months late last year, China’s Ministry of Commerce has finally imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports of polysilicon, a raw material used to make solar panels, from the European Union, according to Reuters. Solar panels were at the centre of a trade row last year after the EU decided to impose anti-dumping duties on panels made in China.

China has already imposed duties on South Korean and the US polysilicon in January this year.

Beginning from May 1, 2014, and lasting two years, anti-dumping duties of 42% will apply to German, Italian and Spanish companies, including Schmid Group, Joint Solar Silicon, MEMC Electronic Materials SpA and Siliken Spain, the Ministry said in a statement on its website. The companies would also be subject to 1.2% anti-subsidy duties, it added.

Surprisingly, Wacker Chemie AG, the German specialty chemicals maker, has been exempted from duties because of the firm’s ‘price commitments’. “If there is a violation of this price commitment or other termination of the price commitment, then anti-dumping duties will be levied according to the final ruling,” said the Ministry.

Relations between China and the EU had soured over the solar industry disputes. They have also been involved in disputes involving other industries, including wine. The EU had planned to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese solar panels but a majority of EU governments opposed the plan and sealed a compromise deal in July.

• [Editor:Ginna]