China’s government has ruled that U.S. government support to six American solar and wind power projects violates free trade rules, adding to strains between Beijing and its trading partners over renewable energy.
The United States and China are the two biggest markets for renewable energy and have pledged to cooperate in developing technology. They accuse each other of improperly supporting their own producers and obstructing foreign competitors.
The Commerce Ministry announcement Monday made no mention of possible penalties but called on Washington to stop the support that it said violates World Trade Organization rules.
Beijing is in the midst of a series of trade disputes with the United States and Europe over market access and government subsidies for solar, wind and other renewable energy industries.
Monday’s announcement said U.S. government subsidies to wind, solar and hydro projects in Washington state, Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey and California acted as a barrier to imports but gave no details. It called on the U.S. government to give Chinese renewable energy products “fair treatment.”
