ABSTRACT
Ans Kolk and Louise Curran explore the role of ideology in China–European Union (EU) market interactions, assessing the way in which they influence public policy and business representations in the solar panel anti-dumping dispute. A strand of research has sought to study the solar panels case, taking into account both China and the EU, by either looking at China–EU bilateral ties or through comparative studies of the political processes and policies in China and the EU. Several important actors are involved in deciding the use of trade defence instruments in the EU. The role played by EU institutions is undeniably important in determining how the international trade interests of member states are defended. In the specific context offered by the China–EU solar panel trade dispute, Italy played the role of the EU member state that values the protection of labour rights – especially in sectors considered “strategic” – over the fostering of greater trade openness with non-EU partners.
