The Commission said there was sufficient evidence to show possible dumping by Chinese exporters that may be injuring EU industry.
The EU solar glass market is valued at less than €200 million, the Commission said.
The product accounts for a tiny fraction of the EU's imports of goods from China, which totalled 293 billion euros in 2011, but the complaint marks a new challenge from the European Union to Chinese exporters and the Beijing government.
Last year, the Commission launched its largest investigation to date, into alleged dumping of, and subsidies for, an annual 21 billion euros of solar panels and components China exports to the EU.
The EU ProSun Glass group, led by EU sector leader GMB of Germany, filed a complaint last month in response to a fourfold increase of Chinese exports to the EU in four years. China's share of the EU market is now 25-30%, it said.
“The new case shows that China’s strategy to dominate the solar sector is not limited to just solar modules but also affects materials like glass," said Milan Nitzschke, president of EU ProSun, which represents the majority of EU solar cell, module and panel production. "It’s a question of time when equipment and raw material manufacturers will follow.”
EU ProSun Glass said Chinese peers had a manufacturing capacity of 400 million square metres, double total global demand, and had to smash some of the glass they produced.
The group says the Chinese government is covering losses of the industry, which is also benefiting from cheap credit and subsidies.
The group said duties of more than 100% were required to bring Chinese prices of below €4 per square metre to a breakeven level of €7 to €9.
EU anti-dumping investigations last up to 15 months. The Commission can impose provisional import duties within the first nine months. EU member states vote on whether to set definitive duties, which typically lasting five years.
