THE European Union said yesterday it had exempted seven of China's largest television makers from a hefty anti-dumping tariff, throwing a lifeline to an overcrowded sector increasingly reliant on exports.

　　Two of the seven firms are based in Shenzhen.

　　The deal, reached on July 29 after a 15-year-long anti-dumping investigation, exempted the seven companies from a 44.6 percent anti-dumping duty on condition they sell only a certain number of color TV sets and at a minimum price, the EU's China office said.

　　However, color TV sets made by other companies will still face the 44.6 percent duty.

　　Analysts estimate the firms — which include China's top three TV makers, Shenzhen-based Konka, Changhong and TCL — account for 90 percent of the domestic market.

　　The others are Xiamen Overseas, Haier, Hisense and Skyworth Multimedia International (Shenzhen).

　　Details of the price floor and quota were not included in an EU statement and industry sources said they would be negotiated on an annual basis.

　　"Being able to export to the European Union is a very good thing," said a company official from Konka, China's second biggest TV maker.

　　Konka posted its first annual net loss in 20 years last year.

　　Analysts said the decision gives China's beleaguered TV industry a much-needed break after rampant over-production and competition in the domestic market triggered a decade-long domestic price war.

　　Export markets, along with higher-margin products, have been one of the few means to escape.

　　(SD-Agencies)