European Union is looking into imposing import duties on cheap Chinese solar panels: facepalm
THE European Union is looking into imposing import duties on cheap Chinese solar panels. If they go ahead with this it will be one of the most ludicroulsy stupid things any government has ever done: yes, worse than a land war in Asia. Not as bloody or wasteful, but more stupid:
The UK could lose billions of pounds and thousands of jobs in the solar industry if the EU imposes tariffs on cheap imported panels from China, a report has claimed.
The European commission is investigating if solar panels coming into Europe from China are being sold below market value – known as “dumping” – and benefiting from unfair Chinese government subsidies.
The move by the commission, instigated last year, is the largest of its kind, with solar panels and key components worth more than £18bn exported from China to the EU in 2011.
It followed complaints from European solar manufacturers and could lead to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties being imposed on Chinese-made panels to stop the cheap imports harming Europe’s domestic industry.
Facepalm.
Every European government is gouging consumers to subsidise the installation of solar panels all across the continent. Every user of electricity pays more so as to subsidise the feed in tariffs that most counrtries have for example.
So, the average schmoe has to pay more to subsidise solar.
Then along come the Chinese. Assume that tey’re right, there are government subsidies there. That the Chinese taxpayer is being gouged to make those panels cheaper for Europeans. What should be our response?
Well, obviously, it should be “Ta v. much. Please send us some more”. For instead of us, we Europeans, being gouged in order to get solar power going it’s the Chinese. Great, we’re happy as a labrador smelling its own fart here.
And then we’ve got those we deign to rule us threatening to tax these cheap imports? What?
Seriously, how damn stupid do you have to be to tax and subsidise, at the same time, the very same damn thing?
Posted: 25th, February 2013 | In: Money Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
