Experts say Europe and China will carry on trading
According to microtechnology experts, China is currently very dependent on imports from Europe. And so in the short term, trading relations should be OK
Leading representatives of the European microtechnology industry do not expect that the current conflict will put a strain on trade relations between Europe and China.
In a flash poll, 57 percent of participating experts from industry and science saw no cause for concern. Only 13 percent supposed that the conflict about punitive duties will have a lasting impact on trade relations between the regions.
The experts call the conflict, sparked by the punitive duties imposed by the EU commission on cheap solar modules from China, a "political poker" and a momentary overreaction. They do however acknowledge that this was quite understandable.
On the other hand, both sides should have an interest, too, not to impose long-term restrictions on the international free trade, which is why they will finally come to an agreement.
According to the microtechnology experts, China is depending too much on imports from Europe to endanger trade relations. In the long term, however, China will strive to become more independent from Europe or even wall off its domestic market like the United States did.
No matter what the experts think of the outcome of the conflict, they almost all agree that punitive duties are not an adequate means to control trade relations. The EU commission should rather appeal to the Chinese government to cut the massive subsidies it puts into the solar industry.
The IVAM Executive Panel is a trend indicator for the microtechnology industry. The IVAM Microtechnology conducts brief periodic surveys among selected opinion leaders, executives in mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, and leading scientists. In June 2013, 23 experts from Germany and Switzerland took part in the survey on the trade conflict with China.