BEIJING — China’s government Friday rejected a U.S. anti-dumping ruling against its makers of solar-power equipment, and Chinese manufacturers warned possible higher tariffs might hurt efforts to promote clean energy.
The conflict has worsened U.S.-Chinese trade tensions. The two governments have pledged to cooperate in developing renewable energy but accuse each other of violating free-trade pledges by subsidizing their own manufacturers.
“The U.S. ruling is unfair, and the Chinese side expresses its extreme dissatisfaction,” said Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang in a statement.
Shen warned that the ruling might harm clean-energy cooperation but gave no indication how Beijing might respond. Some American companies that oppose the trade probe have warned China might retaliate against U.S. suppliers.
Thursday’s preliminary ruling by the Commerce Department said Chinese producers sold solar cells and panels below fair price and hurt American producers. If that is upheld, tariffs averaging 31 percent could be imposed on Chinese solar-panel imports.
