China has blasted U.S. tariffs on solar panel imports, filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the latest salvo of the trade battle between the world’s two economic giants.
U.S. President Donald Trump approved steep tariffs on solar panel imports in January to protect U.S. producers, triggering an outcry from China, South Korea and even protests from the U.S. solar industry.
‘Trade barriers’
China’s Commerce Ministry accused Washington of erecting trade barriers while subsidising its domestic industry.
“While taking protectionist measures against imported photovoltaic products, the U.S. provided subsidies to domestically produced photovoltaics and other renewable energy products,” the Ministry said in a statement.
China lodged its challenge at the WTO on Tuesday, the statement said.
Mr. Trump’s tariffs were not popular with the U.S. solar industry, which claimed the rising cost of imports would cause the loss of thousands of jobs.