Chinese solar companies will have to prepare for heavy duties imposed by the European Commission, although the plan has lost the support of an overwhelming majority of EU members, industry insiders said.

A total of 18 EU members, including Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom, opposed to the commission's plan to impose hefty tariffs on solar products imported from China, in a vote conducted last Friday.

France, Italy, Portugal and Lithuania backed the decision, and another five countries abstained, China's 21st Century Business Herald reported on Friday.