German states call for strict regulation of cheap solar panel imports from China

China has the world’s largest solar panel manufacturing capacity, and its panels are not sold only on the domestic market. China also exports large volumes of panels to the United States, Europe and other parts of the world. The state governments of two German states have now approached the federal government and EU representatives, calling for imports of panels from China to be regulated. The states are even calling for a ban on imports of panels that do not meet EU climate and labour standards.

According to Reuters, European-made solar panels account for only a fraction of the panels installed in Germany. European manufacturers have long been concerned about the influx of cheap solar panels from China, which may even be offered below production costs. Following a meeting with representatives of the solar industry, the state governments of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt presented a ten-point plan to save Germany’s solar industry.