China syndromeChinese practices aim to cripple U.S. energy sector
The U.S. United Steel Workers (USW) union has filed a claim with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, alleging that China has used hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies, performance requirements, preferential practices, and other trade-illegal activities to cripple U.S. industry and gain dominance of the world’s alternative and renewable energy sector.
Representatives of the United Steel Workers (USW) filed a petition with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative last week, identifying five major areas of protectionist and predatory practices it said have been used by China to develop its green sector at the expense of production and job creation in the United States.
The union alleges that China has used hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies, performance requirements, preferential practices, and other trade-illegal activities to advance its domination of the sector.
Under U.S. law, the Obama administration has forty-five days from the date of filing to determine whether to accept the petition for further action.
“Green jobs are key to our future,” said Leo 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. [The U.S.] can’t afford to cede more of its manufacturing base to China.”
The USW points out that the Obama administration and Congress have spent considerable time and effort promoting green jobs as a vital component of a long-term growth strategy. It adds that if China’s illegal actions are left unchecked, the promise of green jobs will not come to fruition.
“[The U.S.] is losing its leadership of this sector, in large part because of China’s plans to control this industry no matter what,” said USW vice-president Tom Conway. “They’re breaking every rule in the book.”
