EU to investigate German charges of Chinese solar panel dumping

EUROPEAN Union trade officials will investigate Chinese solar panel makers for potential dumping of energy products onto the European market, London's Financial Times reported.

Citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the FT said the investigation represents growing trade tension between the EU and China.

During her trip to Beijing, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly told her Chinese host that she would prefer the dispute, arising from a complaint from Germany's SolarWorld, be resolved through dialogue, signifying the political sensitivity of the case.

The case comes to light as China's Ministry of Commerce reviews a similar complaint against US manufacturers, Bloomberg reported.

The ministry will issue preliminary findings as early as November on the case in which four Chinese polysilicon manufacturers accused US companies of dumping the material commonly used in solar panel production.