China hits back at probe into nation's green energy policy
Source: Agencies |
October 17, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA yesterday hit back at a United States decision to investigate a labor union's charges that it subsidizes its green technology producers, saying the move sends a wrong signal on trade protectionism.
The US probe will look into whether support for China's clean energy sector is a violation of World Trade Organization rules.
The Ministry of Commerce said the charges by the United Steelworkers Union were "groundless and irresponsible" and it regretted that the US government had agreed to open an investigation.
"The US government's acceptance of the appeal and its decision to launch a probe into the issue is sending a wrong signal of trade protectionism to the rest of the world," an official with the commerce ministry's division to safeguard fair foreign trade said on its website.
The official said the US was also promoting its energy sector and more than 2,300 projects, including those related to clean energy, were eligible for government subsidies. "As such, the US has no reason to blame other countries' efforts to improve the well-being of mankind."
China will protect its rights and interests in accordance with WTO rules, the unnamed official said.
The US Trade Representative's office began the investigation on Friday in response to the union's complaint that China's support for its renewable energy industries gave Chinese producers an unfair advantage over competitors.
The US decision, unveiled nine days before it was due on October 24, came on the same day as the Treasury Department's announcement that it was putting off for at least one month a report on whether China is manipulating its currency for an unfair trade advantage.
Exchange rate
The US Treasury said it was delaying its semi-annual report on foreign exchange rate practices until after a pair of international summits in November to give diplomatic pressure on China more time to achieve results.
Instead of putting out a report, the Treasury issued a statement praising China for letting the yuan appreciate by roughly 3 percent since June 19.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan spoke by phone with US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Friday "to exchange opinions on issues concerning China-US economic relations," the Xinhua news agency reported.
There was no immediate official response from China to the delay of the report.
The yuan has been rising by about 1 percent per month since the start of September.
In announcing the delay, the US Treasury noted that meetings on October 22 and 23 in South Korea will be attended by Geithner and finance ministers from the other G20 countries.
The group, which represents 85 percent of the global economy, includes traditional economic powers such as the US and Germany and fast-growing developing countries such as China, Brazil and India.
The G20 meeting of finance officials will be followed on November 11 and 12 with meetings of the leaders including US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao in Seoul.
On November 13 and 14, Obama will attend meetings of Asia-Pacific nations in Japan.
The US probe will look into whether support for China's clean energy sector is a violation of World Trade Organization rules.
The Ministry of Commerce said the charges by the United Steelworkers Union were "groundless and irresponsible" and it regretted that the US government had agreed to open an investigation.
"The US government's acceptance of the appeal and its decision to launch a probe into the issue is sending a wrong signal of trade protectionism to the rest of the world," an official with the commerce ministry's division to safeguard fair foreign trade said on its website.
The official said the US was also promoting its energy sector and more than 2,300 projects, including those related to clean energy, were eligible for government subsidies. "As such, the US has no reason to blame other countries' efforts to improve the well-being of mankind."
China will protect its rights and interests in accordance with WTO rules, the unnamed official said.
The US Trade Representative's office began the investigation on Friday in response to the union's complaint that China's support for its renewable energy industries gave Chinese producers an unfair advantage over competitors.
The US decision, unveiled nine days before it was due on October 24, came on the same day as the Treasury Department's announcement that it was putting off for at least one month a report on whether China is manipulating its currency for an unfair trade advantage.
Exchange rate
The US Treasury said it was delaying its semi-annual report on foreign exchange rate practices until after a pair of international summits in November to give diplomatic pressure on China more time to achieve results.
Instead of putting out a report, the Treasury issued a statement praising China for letting the yuan appreciate by roughly 3 percent since June 19.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan spoke by phone with US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Friday "to exchange opinions on issues concerning China-US economic relations," the Xinhua news agency reported.
There was no immediate official response from China to the delay of the report.
The yuan has been rising by about 1 percent per month since the start of September.
In announcing the delay, the US Treasury noted that meetings on October 22 and 23 in South Korea will be attended by Geithner and finance ministers from the other G20 countries.
The group, which represents 85 percent of the global economy, includes traditional economic powers such as the US and Germany and fast-growing developing countries such as China, Brazil and India.
The G20 meeting of finance officials will be followed on November 11 and 12 with meetings of the leaders including US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao in Seoul.
On November 13 and 14, Obama will attend meetings of Asia-Pacific nations in Japan.
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