China hits back at USA for anti-dumping probe

Will investigate alleged US subsidies for renewable energy firms.China has launched an investigation into American government policy and subsidy support for renewable energy after the USA decided to probe the alleged dumping of Chinese-made solar panels in the USA.China's solar industry association earlier asked Beijing to launch an anti-dumping and subsidy probe into imports of U.S. polysilicon, the raw material used to make solar cells.The tit-for-tat investigations highlight rising trade tensions between China and the USA, with analysts warning of more protectionism amid weak global economic growth.A Chinese government announcement said the Ministry of Commerce has decided to initiate a trade barrier investigation into policy support and subsidies for the U.S. renewable energy sector.It said Chinese companies claim the U.S. policies are in effect a trade barrier against Chinese renewable energy exports to the USA. The Chinese RE companies argue that these US policies violated the US commitments under World Trade Organization rules.The US policies are also an unreasonable barrier and restriction on China's renewable energy industry, reducing the competitiveness of Chinese products in the USA.