China says ‘extremely involved’ over EU probe into wind turbine suppliers
by AFP Employees Writers
Beijing (AFP) April 10, 2024
Beijing stated Wednesday it was “extremely involved” over a European Union probe into Chinese language wind turbine suppliers, the most recent transfer by Brussels focusing on the nation over inexperienced tech subsidies suspected of undermining honest competitors.
The EU is searching for to massively ramp up renewable power because it goals for net-zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2050 whereas transferring away from extreme reliance on cheaper Chinese language expertise.
The bloc’s competitors chief, Margrethe Vestager, introduced the inquiry into Chinese language wind turbine suppliers throughout a speech Tuesday in the US.
She stated the investigation would look into the event of wind parks in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria.
Beijing hit again on Wednesday, with overseas ministry spokeswoman Mao Nig slamming EU “protectionism”, telling journalists it “protects backwardness… and causes a number of losses”.
“We urge the European aspect to abide by WTO guidelines and market rules, and China will firmly safeguard the authentic rights and pursuits of Chinese language enterprises,” she stated.
“China is very involved in regards to the discriminatory measures taken by the European aspect in opposition to Chinese language enterprises and even industries,” Mao added.
– US considerations –
The EU’s probe comes on the heels of latest criticism from the US over China’s extra industrial capability.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week rounded off a visit to the world’s second-largest economic system, saying Washington “won’t settle for” underpriced Chinese language items flooding the worldwide market.
America is worried that Beijing subsidies are resulting in extra manufacturing capability than world markets can take up, leading to a surge of low cost exports in sectors akin to photo voltaic and electrical automobiles and stifling the expansion of these industries elsewhere.
Yellen on Monday stated huge Chinese language authorities assist greater than a decade in the past had led to below-cost metal flooding the worldwide market, which “decimated industries internationally and in the US”.
“I’ve made clear that President Biden and I can’t settle for that actuality once more,” she instructed a information convention on the US ambassador’s residence, including that America’s allies and companions shared related considerations.
– A number of probes –
The EU’s wind turbine probe follows earlier investigations focusing on Chinese language subsidies for photo voltaic panels, electrical vehicles and trains, as commerce tensions warmth up with Beijing.
Brussels launched its latest probe underneath guidelines that got here into power final 12 months and search to forestall overseas subsidies from undermining honest competitors within the EU.
Chinese language wind generators are at present being supplied in Europe at costs as much as 50 p.c decrease than European-made ones, in keeping with the WindEurope trade foyer.
The EU opened its first probe underneath the Overseas Subsidies Regulation in February, focusing on a subsidiary of Chinese language rail big CRRC. That investigation was closed after the subsidiary withdrew from a young in Bulgaria to provide electrical trains.
A second probe introduced final week targets Chinese language-owned photo voltaic panel producers searching for to construct and function a photovoltaic park in Romania, partly financed by European funds.
Two separate consortiums are underneath investigation in that case, one in all which features a subsidiary of China’s Longi Inexperienced Power Know-how — the world’s greatest photo voltaic panel producer.
The second is made up of two subsidiaries of China’s state-owned Shanghai Electrical group.
Underneath a special algorithm, Brussels final September began a probe into subsidies for Chinese language electrical vehicles.
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