This Tuesday, in a speech at Princeton University in New Jersey, USA, Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, announced: “Today, we are launching a new investigation into Chinese wind turbine suppliers. We are investigating the conditions under which wind farms are being developed in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria.”
Background to EU-China tensions
This investigation is the latest in a series of measures taken by the European Union against China, following similar tensions in the automotive, rail and solar panel sectors. The European Union recently launched a similar investigation into the Chinese solar industry, which is accused of receiving government subsidies. In addition, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire recently proposed a “European preference” to counter Chinese competition in the renewables sector. Vestager noted that this new investigation is part of “new European rules that came into force in mid-2023 to prevent third-country subsidies suspected of creating unfair competition in tenders.”
Other surveys
Brussels also launched its first anti-subsidy investigation in mid-February, targeting a subsidiary of Chinese rail manufacturer CRRC. In April, the Commission also launched an investigation into two consortia, one involving the Romanian group Enevo and a German subsidiary of Longi, and the other made up of two subsidiaries of Shanghai Electric.
Regulatory and economic implications
The surveys underline the EU’s efforts to defend its market against practices deemed unfair. Vestager gave no further details on the companies specifically targeted or the procedures involved, but stressed the importance of these actions in a context of reinforced regulation.
The European Union is stepping up its efforts to maintain the integrity of its market against external economic influences through strict regulations and targeted investigations, reflecting a more aggressive approach to foreign subsidies that disrupt fair competition.
