Germany's Tagesspiegel reported on the 1st that Solarpower Europe, the European solar industry association, warned in a statement against "irresponsible protective trade measures." The organization wrote ahead of an upcoming meeting between EU business representatives and EU Internal Market Commissioner Breton that tariff measures are currently being considered at the EU level.

Solarpower Europe claims that 429 companies have signed the statement, including large energy companies Eon, EnBW, RWE, Enpal, Zolar, SMA, Sens, Maxsolar, Juwi, Lichtblick, 1Komma5° and others. Walburga Hemetsberger, chairman of European Solar, said she was "shocked" by rumors that the European Commission might launch an investigation into trade protection measures against the solar industry, the statement said. The number of jobs in the European photovoltaic industry will not reach 892,000 in 2024, and if such measures are taken, the industry will risk losing about 290,000 jobs by 2025.

Solarpower Europe did not explicitly mention imposing tariffs on solar modules imported from China, but according to industry sources, this is exactly what the term "trade defense measures" means. The EU set restrictions on the import of Chinese solar panels, cells and silicon wafers from 2013 to 2018, but currently more than 90% of silicon wafers and components still come from China.trina solar panels