Electronics News
- Philips urges EU to scrap bulb duties
Date: 14-Sep-2007 Sources: (Shenzhen Daily)
DUTCH electronics group Philips urged European Union (EU) governments Thursday to throw out a controversial plan to extend anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese energy-saving light bulbs.
The European Commission last month proposed extending duties on the light bulbs for a year, rather than cut them straight away or extend them for longer.
In what is seen as a test of Europe's ability to marry trade and environment policies, EU anti-dumping experts are due to vote on the compromise plan Friday, with some free-trade states, such as Sweden, opposed to any extension of the duties.
As in other recent EU fights over how to respond to Chinese imports, including leather shoes last year, trade diplomats said the outcome was too tight to call. This time, the position of Britain, which usually sits in the free trade camp, was unclear.
Philips is a major importer of energy-saving bulbs from China and has campaigned to scrap the duties.
It warned Thursday the duties could stay in place for two and a half years, not one, if German rival Osram seeks and gets a review of the measures in 2008. Such a review usually lasts one and a half years.
'Therefore, Philips calls upon European member states to agree upon the immediate termination of these anti-dumping duties, since this is in the interest of EU consumers, energy saving and the environment,'Philips said in a statement.
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