America, China In Wind Energy Dispute | EarthTechlingThe Obama administration, agreeing with a claim by the United Steelworkers, is challenging a Chinese government program that provides subsidies to the country’s wind-turbine manufacturing industry, and has formally brought the dispute to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
At issue is a fund set up by China that awards grants to domestic makers of wind turbines as well as wind-turbine parts and components. In announcing the U.S. action, Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the grants, totaling perhaps several hundred million dollars since 2008, run afoul of WTO rules because they are “contingent on wind power equipment manufacturers using parts and components made in China rather than foreign-made parts and components.”
