German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler said the European Commission made a "grave mistake" by agreeing to impose average punitive import duties of 47 percent on solar panels from China and urged the commission to work to prevent the eruption of a trade conflict.

"It's a grave mistake," Roesler told Welt am Sonntag newspaper yesterday.

He said China already warned the duties on solar panels would harm bilateral trade. "That shows punitive import duties are the wrong instrument."

Roesler said Germany has repeatedly warned of the consequences of punitive import duties against China's solar industry.

"The German industry is very concerned and quite rightly," Roesler said. "I expect the commission to do everything to prevent a trade conflict. The commission has to seek a resolution with negotiations and dialogue instead of threats."

Germany's BDI industry group warned at the weekend about negative effects for the export-oriented industry of the commission's move.