China: US clean-energy projects breach WTO rules

China’s Ministry of Commerce ruled Monday that six US clean-energy projects received subsidies in violation of WTO rules, the latest tit-for-tat response in growing clean energy trade disputes that pits China against the US and EU, The Wall Street Journal reported. The ministry said the projects – renewable energy ventures in Massachusetts, Ohio, Washington state, New Jersey and California – received subsidies that served as trade barriers to Chinese exports of clean-energy products to the US, though it did not announce any penalties. The ministry began an investigation in November on behalf of Chinese industry associations. The US has announced a number of provisional and final duties against imports of Chinese clean tech imports over the past six months, even as the industry is hit by sagging demand in Europe.