Beijing (UPI) May 16, 2013China warned that the European Union's proposed levying of punitive duties on Chinese solar panels would "severely impair" bilateral trade ties. The comments Thursday by Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang came after the European Commission agreed to a proposal to levy provisional duties ranging from 37-68 percent on Chinese solar panels, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua rep Reported by Solar Daily 4 hours ago.