China calls the move 'protectionist' as the investigation targets Chinese subsidies for wind turbine companies competing for projects in five EU countries.The EU and China once again reach a critical point as the former throws a wrench into the plans of Chinese wind turbine companies seeking fair competition in European markets.
A Chinese trade remedies official made “solemn representations” on the issue in a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday with Martin Lukas, the EU director general for trade defense, the Commerce Ministry said. The investigation will look into whether Chinese subsidies are giving wind turbine companies an unfair advantage in the competition for Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria.
“This action sends a detrimental signal to the world, suggesting discrimination against Chinese enterprises and endorsing protectionism,” the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said inThe EU also announced investigations last week into two Chinese solar panel makers bidding for a 455-megawatt solar park in Romania. An earlier EU probe into the procurement of 20 electric trains in Bulgaria was dropped last month after the Chinese bidder withdrew from the competition.
The EU also launched an investigation last October into Chinese subsidies for electric vehicles as exports from China to Europe rise. “We have a dilemma here,” said Maximillian Butek, the head of the German Chamber of Commerce in East China. “Because now at the moment it’s solar, the next could be maybe wind power, etc. So this is a balance the politicians need to find.”