"The architecture of the deal is there," said one person close to the negotiations that are taking place in Beijing.

A second person said the proposed deal involves a quota for Chinese panels that could not be sold at less than the cost of production in China. Analysts say that was around $0.59 per watt in 2012.

Under the proposal, panels sold in excess of the quota would be subject to duties, although the level and the amount are still under discussion, a third person said.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott and Ethan Bilby; editing by Adrian Croft)