The European Union approved on Oct. 15 a one-year extension of anti-dumping duties running as high as 66% on Chinese-made energy-saving light bulbs. "The measures are aimed at addressing unfair competitive advantages resulting from the dumping of imports onto the (EU) market," the 27-nation bloc said.
The decision came despite a high-level EU drive to use more low-energy light bulbs and a push from Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to let the six-year-old duties lapse when they were due to expire this month.
Osram, a subsidiary of Siemens, had led efforts to renew the duties because they hit Dutch rival Philips harder than Osram, though both companies produce in China.
The duties also cover imports of energy-saving light bulbs from Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam to prevent Chinese producers from passing their exports through those countries.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007
