China to investigate US renewable energy subsidies

China launched an investigation of US government policy and subsidies for renewable energy, only weeks after the US announced a similar probe into China’s support for its solar industry, Reuters reported. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) probe follows a statement last week by China’s solar industry association that it might ask for an investigation into dumping and subsidies by US makers of polysilicon, a raw material used in solar cells. “The Ministry of Commerce has decided to initiate a trade barrier investigation into policy support and subsidies for the U.S. renewable energy sector,” according to a written statement on the MofCom website. Companies had claimed that US subsidies constitute a trade barrier and “violated the United States’ commitments under World Trade Organization rules…reducing the competitiveness of Chinese products in the U.S. market,” MofCom said.