European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager said conditions for the development of wind parks in several European countries would be examined. Photograph: GettyThe EU will investigate subsidies received by Chinese suppliers of wind turbines destined for Europe, in the bloc’s latest move to shield domestic firms from cheap clean tech products.
A group representing Chinese business interests in Brussels expressed its “profound dissatisfaction” over what it called protectionism and a lack of transparency from the EU as it rolls out its new rules to counter state aid from foreign actors.“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 in a statement.
“China's competitiveness as a manufacturing location, the Chinese government's push to develop the entire wind supply chain, and ambitious renewable energy targets have all played a significant role”, said market intelligence provider Enerdata. Ms Vestager said the EU needed to adopt a more systematic approach rather than case-by-case investigations, adding: “We can’t afford to see what happened on solar panels happening again on electric vehicles, wind or essential chips”.
European manufacturers were banned from using state-backed financing to shore up their bids by offering cheaper prices or deferring payments under OECD free trade rules, Tardieu added on a conference call.