China defends subsidies to renewable energy sector
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
BEIJING, Oct 18 (Commodity Online): Continuing with its criticisms on the US, China Monday criticised a US probe on 'Beijing's support' to renewable energy producers in the country.
According to China's National Energy Bureau, country's subsidies to clean energy companies are very small compared to those the US gives to its green energy sector.
The US Trade Representative's office launched the investigation Friday at the request of the powerful United Steelworkers union.
The union claims China's green technology practices discriminate against foreign firms, in violation of World Trade Organisation rules.
The bureau said Washington gave $4.6 billion in cash to new energies firms in the first nine months of this year, including $3 billion to wind power enterprises.
The American steelworkers claim that unlike the United States, China is using subsidies to help exports, a practice prohibited by the WTO.
According to China's National Energy Bureau, country's subsidies to clean energy companies are very small compared to those the US gives to its green energy sector.
The US Trade Representative's office launched the investigation Friday at the request of the powerful United Steelworkers union.
The union claims China's green technology practices discriminate against foreign firms, in violation of World Trade Organisation rules.
The bureau said Washington gave $4.6 billion in cash to new energies firms in the first nine months of this year, including $3 billion to wind power enterprises.
The American steelworkers claim that unlike the United States, China is using subsidies to help exports, a practice prohibited by the WTO.