Alternative Energy: U.S. and China clash in trade dispute over alternative energy technologies - by Stephen Vagus

The U.S. and China have been locked in a trade dispute over clean energy projects for some time. The U.S. government recently launched an investigation into wind turbine towers that are being exported from China. The investigation is meant to find any purposeful deficiencies present in the turbines and whether they are being sold at unfair discounts, a fact that the Chinese government has taken issue with. China claims that the investigation is worsening the trade dispute and could put a halt to any progress toward reducing carbon emissions and cooperation toward sustainability.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce notes that the dispute and the investigations that are becoming increasingly common from the U.S. could damage the interest of American companies looking to do business in the country. Government officials assert that they will continue to adhere to the commitments that they made at the recent G20 summit in Cannes, France, and hopes that the U.S. will show respect for these commitments by allowing the country to operate within its own laws and regulations.

China has been earnest in its pursuit of alternative energy thus far, hoping to significantly reduce its carbon emissions by 2020. Though the country is largely self-reliant, cooperation is key to attaining this goal. If relations between the two countries do not improve, it could put the sustainability goals of both nations in jeopardy.

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