EU scraps countervailing duties on Chinese solar glass as output hits zero

The Commission repeals the definitive countervailing duties on solar glass from ChinaEuropa and terminates the expiry-review proceedingEuropa. Subsidisation was found to continue, 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 lapseEuropa.

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, furniture and greenhouses. Countervailing duties of 3.2% to 17.1%, with a country-wide rate of 17.1%, were imposed in 2014 and extended in 2020. The Interfloat Group requested the current expiry review on 19 April 2025; it was initiated on 22 July 2025Europa under Article 18 of the anti-subsidy basic Regulation, with a review investigation period of 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. This act concerns the countervailing duties only.

On subsidisation, neither the Chinese government nor any exporting producer cooperated, so findings rest on facts available. The Commission concluded there is sufficient evidence that subsidisation of the Chinese solar glass industry continued during the investigation period and is likely to continue, carried by state planning documents, encouraged-industry status and the findings of the previous expiry review.

On injury, both remaining Union producers stopped productionEuropa in early 2025Europa; verification visits could not take place, and one applicant filed for insolvency in November 2025. 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 periodEuropa, there is no Union industry within the meaning of Article 9 of the basic Regulation whose situation could be examinedEuropa, so no likelihood of injury can be establishedEuropa, and no causation analysis was needed.

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 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 471/2014 and 2020/1081 are repealedEuropa and the proceeding is terminatedEuropa. Duties collected from the 22 July 2025 initiation on goods that were customs-cleared are repaidEuropa 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 publicationEuropa and is directly applicable in all Member States.

The expiry review was conducted under Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037, and is closed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2310 of 19 October 2026.