Action brought on 28 February 2014 – Yingli Energy (China) and Others v Council
(Case T-161/14)
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicants: Yingli Energy (China) Co. Ltd (Baoding, China); Baoding Tianwei Yingli New Energy Resources Co. Ltd (Baoding); Hainan Yingli New Energy Resources Co. Ltd (Haikou, China); Hengshui Yingli New Energy Resources Co. Ltd (Hengshui, China); Tianjin Yingli New Energy Resources Co. Ltd (Tianjin, China); Lixian Yingli New Energy Resources Co. Ltd (Baoding); Baoding Jiasheng Photovoltaic Technology Co. Ltd (Baoding); Beijing Tianneng Yingli New Energy Resources Technology Co. Ltd (Beijing, China); Yingli Energy (Beijing) Co. Ltd (Beijing); Yingli Green Energy Europe (Düsseldorf, Germany); Yingli Green Energy South East Europe GmbH (Grünwald, Germany); Yingli Green Energy France SAS (Lyon, France); Yingli Green Energy Spain, SL (La Moraleja, Spain); Yingli Green Energy Italia Srl (Rome, Italy); and Yingli Green Energy International AG (Kloten, Switzerland) (represented by: A. Willems, S. De Knop and J. Charles, lawyers)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
The applicants claim that the Court should:
Declare the action admissible ;
Annul Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1239/2013 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and key components (i.e. cells) originating in or consigned from the People’s Republic of China (OJ 2013 L 325, p. 66), as far as it applies to the applicants;
Order the defendants to pay the costs.
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicants rely on three pleas in law.
First plea in law, alleging that by imposing countervailing measures on crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and key components consigned from the People’s Republic of China whereas the Notice of initiation mentioned only crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and key components originating in the People’s Republic of China, the Institutions violated Articles 10(12) and 10(13) of Council Regulation (EC) No 597/20091 .
Second plea in law, alleging that by imposing countervailing measures on crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and key components that were not subject to an anti-subsidy investigation, the Institutions violated Articles 1 and 27 of Council Regulation (EC) No 597/2009.
Third plea in law, alleging that by conducting one single investigation for two distinct products (i.e., crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and cells), the Institutions violated Article 2(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 597/2009.
____________1 Council Regulation (EC) No 597/2009 of 11 June 2009 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community (OJ 2009 L 188, p. 93)