U.S. Challenges China Wind Power Aid At WTO

[Elmore Furth]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday accused China of illegally subsidizing the production of wind power equipment and asked for talks at the World Trade Organization, the first step in filing a trade case

USTR estimated Chinese manufacturers of wind turbines and related parts and components could have received several hundred million dollars in questionable government grants in 2008 under China's "Special Fund for Wind Power Manufacturing."

"Import substitution subsidies are particularly harmful and inherently trade distorting, which is why they are expressly prohibited under WTO rules," Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in a statement. "These subsidies effectively operate as a barrier to U.S. exports to China.

U.S. wind turbine manufacturers such as General Electric and United Technologies are eager to compete in China's fast-growing market.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/12/22/us/politics/politics-us-usa-china-windpower.html?_r=1&ref=politics

[DCKit]

1. We (the U.S.) should do the same.

That'll teach 'em.

[Proletariatprincess]

2. Wait...did I get this right?

A Communist government is giving grants to it's own industry in the nationalist/socialist interest of selling it's products to Capitalists? Wow. Who would have believed such a thing? :sarcasm:

[mbperrin]

4. Dang commies!!!! Supposed to be downsizin', not hirin'!

That's what Unka Friedman sez, anyway....

[bongbong]

3. Chinese response

The Chinese should file a counterclaim that the military spending of the USA is a hidden subsidy to oil prices, keeping them low since we mainly use the military to occupy oil-bearing countries.