Innovation, New market

"We should change the extensive growth mode and rely more on innovation and technology rather than on cheap labor and resources in grabbing market share and profits," said Meng of China Renewable Energy Society.

Some firms are eyeing emerging markets to help reduce their over-reliance on Europe.  "We will consider exploring the African and Southeast Asian markets in a bid to reduce the risk posed by the excessive reliance on one single market," said Zhang of Canadian Solar Inc.

"Yingli is preparing for the worst. If the punitive duties are levied, we will move our plant to another country," said Wang Yiyu, Yingli's chief strategy officer. "But China's PV industry would then be struck down completely."

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