China’s subsidies for the solar and wind turbine industries break rules set by the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to the United Steelworkers.
The labor group last week filed a 5,000-page complaint with the U.S. Trade Representative, claiming that the U.S. is losing jobs due to China’s efforts to control the global market for clean energy equipment.
China’s investment in clean energy manufacturing in 2009 was roughly $30 billion–about twice the investment made in the U.S.
WTO rules prohibit export subsidies that give domestic products an advantage in overseas markets. They also restricts tariffs that penalize foreign competitors.
The New York Times examines the claims made by the United Steelworkers in this article, and takes a broader look at China’s support for the cleantech industry at the link below.
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