Summary The European Union says it is imposing anti-dumping levies on imports of Chinese solar panels.
BERLIN (AP) - EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht said Tuesday the 27-country bloc will impose a tariff of about 12 percent immediately. It will increase that to 47 percent starting in August.
The tariffs will become permanent in six months if the EU Commission, the bloc s executive arm, and China do not manage to negotiate a settlement by then.
De Gucht says "the ball is now in China s court."
China is the world s largest producer of solar panels and is accused by the EU of selling them below-cost to corner the market. Its exports of solar panels to Europe totaled 21 billion euros in 2011.
