Wind turbines: the European Union launches an anti-subsidy investigation targeting China

Europe is further tightening its standoff with Beijing over the Chinese regime's subsidies for its exports. After electric vehicles, rail and solar panels, the European Commission announced on Tuesday an investigation targeting Chinese manufacturers of wind turbines and the subsidies they receive, suspected of distorting the market in Europe.

“Today we are launching a new investigation into Chinese wind turbine suppliers. We are studying the conditions for developing wind farms in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria,” said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the Commission, in charge of competition, during a speech at Princeton University, United States. According to the commissioner, Beijing exports “at low prices” to the rest of the world to compensate for its own economic slowdown.

She accused China of having already managed to dominate the solar panel industry, by "granting massive subsidies to its domestic suppliers, while simultaneously and gradually closing the Chinese market to foreign companies." This is not yet the case in the wind market, but it is the sector's fear. Chinese wind turbines are sold at prices up to 50% lower than those of European competitors, according to WindEurope, the sector's European lobby. “It is not possible to do this without unfair public subsidies,” assures Giles Dickson, its general director, who welcomes the launch of the investigation.