Mandelson scores narrow win in China lightbulb fight

BRUSSELS, July 26 (Reuters) European Union trade chief Peter Mandelson narrowly won support from EU trade experts today for a controversial plan to axe anti-dumping duties on Chinese energy-saving lightbulbs.

''A majority of member states indicated that they expected to be in a position to support the proposal,'' Mandelson's spokesman Peter Power said.

''The outcome of the discussions puts the (European) Commission in a position to proceed with a formal proposal to end the duties.'' The show of support was a victory for Dutch electronics group Philips, which imports large amounts of the lightbulbs from China and fought hard for the elimination of the anti-dumping duties of up to 66 per cent.

Environmental groups have argued that the duties, in place since 2001, fly in the face of the EU's plans to boost energy savings as part of its fight against climate change.

But it came as a blow for German rival Siemens, which wanted to extend the punitive tariffs for a further five years.

A trade diplomat said 10 of the EU's 27 countries backed the plan and a further eight asked for more time, but four of those said they would not oppose the proposal.

Under EU voting rules, abstentions on anti-dumping issues are counted as votes in favour of a proposal.

The nine other EU states opposed the plan, the diplomat said.

Another diplomat said the Anti-Dumping Committee was due to consider the Commission's formal proposal in September.

REUTERS SY BD2208