Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The United Steelworkers union filed Thursday a comprehensive trade case with the U.S. government against China’s clean energy plan.

The complaint identified “a broad array of Chinese policies and practices that threaten the future of America’s alternative and renewable energy sector,” according to a statement by the USW.

The case charges that “China has utilized hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies, performance requirements, preferential practices and other trade-illegal activities to advance its domination of the sector.”

The 5,800-page submission identified five areas of “protectionist and predatory practices utilized by the Chinese to develop their green sector at the expense of production and job creation in the U.S.”

The USW filed the petition under Section 301 of the trade law with the office of United States Trade Representative.

Under the law, the Obama administration has 45 days from the date of filing to determine whether to accept the petition for further action.

“Green jobs are key to our future. Right now, China is taking every possible step – many of them illegal under international trade laws – to ensure that it will control that sector. America can’t afford to cede more of its manufacturing base to China,” Leo W. Gerard, USW international president, said in the statement.

“It’s a national priority to reduce our dependence on foreign energy supplies. But if all we do is exchange our dependence on foreign oil for a dependence on Chinese alternative and renewable energy production equipment, we will have traded away our nation’s energy, economic and job security,” Gerard added.

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