EU scraps Chinese solar-glass duties as Union output hits zero

The Commission repeals the definitive anti-dumping duty on solar glass from ChinaEuropa and terminates the expiry-review proceedingEuropa, because there is no longer a Union industry that the duty could protectEuropa. Dumping was still foundEuropa, but with Union production at zeroEuropa and no verifiable prospect of a restartEuropa, there is no likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injuryEuropa, and Union users' interest weighs for letting the measures lapse.

The product is tempered soda-lime flat glass with iron content below 300 ppm, solar transmittance above 88%, heat resistance to 250°C, thermal-shock resistance of 150 K and mechanical strength of at least 90 N/mm², under CN code ex 7007 19 80. It is used in photovoltaic modules, flat photothermal collectors and greenhouses. Definitive duties were imposed in 2014 and extended in 2020; the current expiry review was initiated on 22 July 2025Europa. This act concerns the anti-dumping duties only.

On dumping, no Chinese exporting producer cooperated and the government did not reply, so findings rest on facts available. The Commission again found significant distortions in China within the meaning of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation, constructed normal value from undistorted costs with Türkiye as representative country, and established dumping above de minimis. A fuller quantification was unnecessary given what followed.

On injury, both remaining Union producers, GMB Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg and AGC Glass Europe, stopped production in early 2025Europa; verification visits could not take place, GMB filed for insolvency in November 2025, and no other producer came forward. The producers said duties would allow a restart once market conditions improved, but supplied no binding agreement, financing or operational plan, and no takeover materialised. With no production at the end of the investigation periodEuropa, there is no Union industry within the meaning of Article 4 of the basic Regulation whose situation could be examinedEuropa, so no likelihood of injury can be establishedEuropa.

On Union interest, all cooperating users, module makers using imported glass, opposed continuation. With no Union output, the duty works as a tax on downstream production: solar glass is 12 to 18% of a standard module's production cost, and in a market with strong price pressure even a small cost decrease helps Union module makers compete with imported modules. Termination takes at least four months to reach users given production and China delivery lead times. No active producer interest in prolongation could be identified or verified.

Operatively, the duties imposed by Implementing Regulations 470/2014 and 2020/1080 are repealedEuropa and the proceeding is terminatedEuropa. Duties collected from the 22 July 2025 initiation on goods that were customs-cleared are repaid where national customs authorities grant a request under the Union customs rules on repayment and remissionEuropa; no interest is paid. The regulation enters into force the day after its publication and is directly applicable in all Member States.

The expiry review was conducted under Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, applying Articles 2(6a), 4, 18 and 21, and is closed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2314 of 19 October 2026.