As many of you will have read, David Cameron, Britain’s Prime Minister, is leading an overseas trade mission to China that includes various delegates such as Ralf Speth who is the chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover and Karren Brady who is the vice-chairman of West Ham United.
In recent months, there has been an uneasy trading relationship between China and European Union member countries over the believed dumping of solar panels by China and, more recently, the issue over the believed dumping of glass used in the manufacture of solar panels.
Apparently, Mr Cameron has called for a new European Union – China free trade agreement and has made it clear that the UK welcomes investment from China and that he is best placed to support China in their deliberations with western nations. Although China and the European Union met in November to discuss greater trading in the coming years there is believed to be some unease from within the EU about a European Union – China free trade arrangement.
The UK Prime Minster will be meeting both Xi Jinping who is the Chinese president and Li Keqiang who is the premier.
As many of you are no doubt aware, China has grown to become the biggest trading country throughout the world and is expected to be the biggest importer of products in 2014. Therefore, is it not right that the UK should do everything in their power to maintain an effective trading relationship with China?
For those of us that are involved in the solar power industry here in the UK is it not better that we are on good terms with such a powerful nation? As long as neither side abuses the trading relationship, can it only be beneficial to all parties?
So, will David Cameron’s trip to China be of benefit to the solar panel industry in the UK? Potentially, yes.
We welcome your comments.
