Documents filed by Brussels with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) today say Germany was a major exporter of the renewable energy technology to the US.
But it says the harsh fees imposed by President Trump’s administration had damaged trade.
In its claim, the EU insists the steep tariffs, which are part of Mr Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, broke WTO rules.
The latest complaint could be the start of a trade war the President will have to fight on multiple fronts following similar claims by China, Taiwan and South Korea, all of which are big producers of solar panels.
However, the EU claim only goes as far as accusing the US of going against WTO rules.
The claim comes amid a souring of relations between the EU and America, with Mr Trump claiming in a TV interview last month “the European Union has been very, very unfair to the United States”.