{{Canada lost an appeal at the World Trade Organization on Monday in a ruling on incentives offered to local companies, a case that has already led to legal challenges over suspicions of similar perks elsewhere.}}<\/p>\n
Japan and the European Union brought the case over a scheme intended to promote renewable energy in the province of Ontario.<\/p>\n
It offered above-market prices for electricity supplied by renewable energy companies but only offered the premium to firms who bought most of their equipment locally.
\nMonday’s appeal decision revised some of a December ruling in which the Japan and the EU had won most of the case.<\/p>\n
But it left in place the key finding that Ontario’s incentives were illegal because they discriminated against foreign firms.<\/p>\n
“Today’s ruling is good news for everyone caring about clean energy and the environment: it has been made clear that use of quality, cost-effective technologies should not be hampered by protectionist measures,” EU trade spokesman John Clancy said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“The EU supports the promotion of renewable energy but considers this must be done in a manner consistent with international trade rules.”<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman for Canada’s federal trade ministry, Caitlin Workman, said the government would work with the provincial authorities to respond to the WTO appeal ruling, which is final.<\/p>\n
Ontario will have to bring its rules into line with the WTO rules or risk a claim for trade sanctions against Canada.<\/p>\n
Canada’s defeat may spur more WTO disputes by countries which are desperate for economic growth and suspect their firms are being illegally locked out of infrastructure projects abroad.<\/p>\n
The United States has already charged India with illegally favoring local producers in its solar sector and China has hit the EU with a claim that Greece and Italy favored solar power firms that bought local components.<\/p>\n
Other potential disputes are simmering, with Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine and the United States all under scrutiny in sectors such as energy, mining, carmaking and telecoms.<\/p>\n
{reuters}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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