July 26, 2012. China's solar firms warned of a trade war, calling on the Chinese government to respond with all means to an anti-dumping complaint filed by European competitors that they said could be a fatal blow. Ratcheting up the stakes in ongoing disputes within the industry, companies led by Germany's SolarWorld asked the European Union to investigate claims that Chinese firms had been selling their products below market value in Europe -- the world's biggest solar market. SolarWorld spearheaded a similar initiative in the United States, leading the world's largest economy in May to impose duties of about 31 percent on solar panel imports from China. Western solar companies have been at odds with their Chinese counterparts for years, alleging they receive lavish credit lines to offer modules at cheaper prices, while European players struggle to refinance. Trade action in Europe could prompt China to return fire by taking similar measures against western solar companies. Close to 60 percent of China's solar exports, worth $35.8 billion, were shipped to the EU in 2011, the four Chinese companies said. Europe accounted for 74 percent of global solar installations in 2011, according to industry association EPIA. The European Commission has 45 days to decide if it will start an investigation.