Study On The Multi-level Lobbying Strategy Of Chinese Photovoltaic Enterprises Under The European Anti-dumping Investigation

September 2012, the European Commission officially launched an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese solar panel. Under a great effort up to 15 months by Chinese governments and enterprises, the two sides eventually reached a price undertaking. In this case, the Chinese government undoubtedly played a decisive role. However, the role of companies cannot be ignored since they tried to influence the investigation through various ways. This article explores the following questions in the perspective of solar enterprises:how Chinese solar enterprises get involved? What are the objects of their lobbying? How do they carry out lobbying? What are the characteristics of their lobbying network? Why they are able to lobbying?Traditionally, as a common trade policy, anti-dumping decisions belong to the first pillar of the European Union (EU), in which the EU has exclusive powers. But by analyzing the EU anti-dumping decision-making mechanism, the article argues that this mechanism suits the Joint Decision-making Mode of multi-level governance proposed by Fritz Scharpf. The European Commission has the power to decision the agenda and a provisional measure, but a definitive anti-dumping duty shall be imposed by the European Council under a simple majority rule. In the policy implementation phase, the state-level has a more important role. According to the Community Interest principle, a determination calls for intervention shall be based on an appreciation of all the various interests taken as a whole. As a result, the complainants, imports and their representative associations, representative users and consumer organizations may make themselves know and provide information to the Commission. This kind of decentralization illustrates the characteristics of multi-level governance (EU-level, state-level and community-level) of EU anti-dumping decision-making mechanism. Due to the multi-level mechanism, Chinese enterprises have to take a multi-level lobbying strategy and lobbying all subjects shared the decision power.In the case of this article, Chinese solar enterprises take advantage of the political opportunities provided by the multi-level governance, lobbying against the EU level, member state level and community level. In the member state level, Chinese solar industry tried to purse an indirect strategy, lobbying member states with the patron of the Chinese government. In the community level, Chinese solar enterprises promoted as well as participated in associations established in the European Union. These associations mobilized media and consumers, putting stress on the European Commission. With the direct lobbying and indirect lobbying, European Commission finally made a concession.One of the main characteristics of the lobbying network in this case is that in the EU and member state level, Chinese solar enterprises relies on indirect lobbying route. The article argues that the resources and access goods owned by industry and enterprises are key conceptions to explain this phenomenon.At last, the article reflected the problems of the development of Chinese solar industries, and also put forward three revelations:trying to get the patron from government; cultivating long-term associations in EU community; establishing Chinese chamber of commerce in the European Union, strengthening the capability to express appeals into EU’s decision-making procedure and safeguarding own interests.