Major Green groups urge USA to stop bullying Indian solar companies
The Sierra Club and 11 other environmental organizations sent a letter to Ambassador Demetrios Marantis, acting U.S. Trade Representative, expressing concern regarding a case brought by the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging parts of India's national solar program. The organizations urged the U.S. Trade Representative to agree to a solution that allows India to support and build its domestic solar industry.
The United States government is currently challenging domestic content rules and subsidies in India's national solar program, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), in this WTO case. The program aims to boost India's position as a top global renewable energy producer by supporting solar energy production nationwide. The JNNSM program would bring 20,000 megawatts of solar energy to India by the year 2020.
The United States government alleges that the domestic content rules appear to discriminate against American solar panel producers and therefore may violate WTO rules. According to the letter, "the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is concerned about the expansion of India's domestic content rules to thin film solar technologies, which currently comprise the majority of U.S. solar exports to India."
"The United States shouldn't be bullying other nations for nurturing their domestic economic growth, especially in an industry that could address the devastating effects of climate disruption worldwide," said Sierra Club Trade Representative Ilana Solomon. "We're teetering on the edge of a climate tipping point, and we must invest in clean energy now "“ not only in the U.S., but globally. Instead of attempting to thwart India's solar innovation, the Office of the United States Trade Representative should support India's efforts to develop a domestic solar industry, just as we must do at home."
The United States and India will begin a process to find a resolution to this challenge. If no resolution is reached, the U.S. can then request the establishment of a WTO panel to determine whether India has violated trade rules.
Organizations that signed the letter are:
Sierra Club
350.org
ActionAid USA
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Food Safety
Center for International Environmental Law
Earth Day Network
EcoEquity
Friends of the Earth US
Global Exchange
Greenpeace USA
Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project
