On September 9, North American trade union the United Steelworkers (USW) filed a comprehensive trade case under Section 301 of the trade law identifying a broad array of Chinese policies and practices that allegedly threaten the future of the US alternative and renewable energy sector.
According to a USW statement, the case alleges that China has utilized hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies, performance requirements, preferential practices and other trade-illegal activities to advance its domination of the sector. The USW filed the petition with the office of United States Trade Representative.
The 5,800-page submission identifies five major areas of protectionist and predatory practices utilized by the Chinese to develop their green sector at the expense of production and job creation in the US: namely, restrictions on access to critical materials, performance requirements for investors, discrimination against foreign firms and goods, prohibited export subsidies and prohibited domestic content subsidies and trade distorting domestic subsidies.
Under the law, the Obama Administration has 45 days from the date of filing to determine whether to accept the petition for further action. This will put the administration's decision date on or before October 24.
"Green jobs are key to our future," said Leo W. Gerard, International President of the USW. "Right now, China is taking every possible step - many of them illegal under international trade laws - to ensure that it will control that sector. America can't afford to cede more of its manufacturing base to China," he stated