Majority of EU members vote against punitive duties on Chinese solar panels

BRUSSELS, May 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 out of the 27 European Union (EU) member states have voted against the European Commission's proposal to impose punitive duties on imported Chinese solar panels, sources told Xinhua on Monday.

EU trade officials were arranging further meetings or calls this week to reach out to at least three EU members, who had submitted a written "no" position Friday, two people familiar with the case told Xinhua.

The non-legally binding voting results were unlikely to prevent the Commission from issuing a regulation to slap the hefty 47-percent anti-dumping duties against Chinese products, they said.

"However, it does weaken its strategic position for the rest of the investigation and for possible settlement negotiations," said one source. "The Commission might attempt in the next couple of days to encourage some EU member states to change their position."

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