THE Italian photovoltaic industry leader has expressed his opposition to the European Commission's decision to impose punitive duties on Chinese solar products.

Emilio Cremona, president of the Italian PV Industry Association, forecast a shrinking solar market, job losses and factory closures in Europe as a result of the duties.

The association represents around 165 Italian PV companies and more than 50 percent of the Italian solar market.

The remarks came just a month after the commission decided to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of solar panels, cells and wafers from China - a decision rejected by 18 European Union member states and supported only by four including Italy.

From June 6, EU imports of Chinese solar products have been subject to a punitive duty of 11.8 percent until August 6, after which duty will be raised to 47.6 percent if China and the EU cannot resolve the dispute through negotiations.

Citing studies by "prestigious international analysts," Cremona, also president of Universal Sun, a leading Italian PV firm, said the duties would have a strong negative impact on the European PV market.

Due to the duties on Chinese solar products, the European solar market would shrink by 6 gigawatts, he said.

"In this scenario, it's difficult to see how the European Commission's decision would protect the European PV industry. On the contrary, I foresee a loss of jobs and factories," Cremona added.

The duties against Chinese solar panels also came at a bad time when the European solar industry is in a delicate situation, he said. In Italy, the government has shut the "Conto Energia" subsidy initiative which has been supporting the solar market.

Despite Italy voting for the commission's decision to impose duties on Chinese solar products, Cremona said his association was against it.