Robotic arms work on the automated production line of a new-energy company in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province on September 2, 2024. Photovoltaic firms in the city have increased investment in innovation, and the city has formed a photovoltaic industry chain. Photo: VCG

 
The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) on Tuesday issued a statement, calling on domestic photovoltaic (PV) enterprises to resist unfair competition practices such as exporting at low prices and to reasonably control the expansion of production capacity.

As a cornerstone of China's emerging industries, the PV sector faces both significant opportunities and challenges in the global energy transition, read the statement published on the chamber's official WeChat account.

However, some enterprises, in a shortsighted attempt to seize market share, have engaged in below-cost exports and vicious competition. These actions not only harm the industry's overall interests but also damage the international reputation of China's PV sector. The CCCME firmly opposes all forms of unfair competition, including below-cost exports, according to the statement.

The high-quality development of China's PV industry is not only vital to the survival and growth of individual enterprises but also carries the mission of contributing to the global energy transformation. All industry stakeholders should recognize the harm of unfair competition, and prioritize self-discipline to jointly resist unfair practices, foster a fair and orderly export environment, the CCCME said, listing several suggestions. 

The CCCME called on enterprises to strictly adhere to the principles of fair competition and conduct operations in accordance with laws and regulations, rationally control the pace of capacity expansion based on global market demand, and promote the orderly phase-out of outdated production capacity.

The chamber further urged PV producers to focus on technological innovation and quality improvement to shift the PV industry from a "scale advantage" to "quality advantage." It also called on PV enterprises to collectively abide by the self-regulatory convention for foreign trade enterprises in the PV industry.

The convention was signed in November 2024 to maintain export orders and safeguard the interests of the PV industry. It was organized by the solar PV branch of the CCCME, and joined by 22 domestic PV enterprises, according to a report released on the CCCME's WeChat account.

The CCCME's move on Tuesday comes as China has taken various steps to address cutthroat competition. 

The 2025 government work report released in March vowed to "take comprehensive steps to address rat race competition." The focus was cemented at a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs on July 1, as policymakers pledged to tackle disorderly low-price competition, guide enterprises to improve product quality, and facilitate the orderly exit of outdated production capacities, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Global Times