China and the US are the world?s largest renewable energy markets. In the US, people think China has made things really difficult for foreign players while exporting equipment for less than the cost of making. In China, free trade slogans are raised against American anti-dumping cries. To this volatile mix, add a high-voltage US election campaign. Barack Obama is being bludgeoned for the $535m federal loan guarantee given to solar panel company Solyndra before it went bust. Mitt Romney?s spokesperson called this a reminder of why Obama?s approach to the economy has ?so utterly failed?. Meanwhile, Obama?s campaign has released TV ads denouncing Romney?s business investments in companies active in China, concluding: ?Romney?s never stood up to China. All he?s done is send them our jobs.? Even in normal circumstances, China wouldn?t have taken kindly to Friday?s presidential order to shut down the Chinese-owned Ralls from building a wind farm near Oregan, citing national security concerns since the site is within the restricted airspace of a naval training facility. But it?s likely because of the increased China-bashing being seen in this US election season that Ralls has threatened a hitherto taboo retaliation: it?s going to sue the American President!
Note that Ralls is owned by executives of the Sany Group, which is China?s biggest machinery maker. So there is reasonable might behind its unprecedented challenge. And the drama gets murkier with the Chinese company being advised by two high-profile lawyers who actually served as assistant attorney-general and solicitor-general in George W Bush?s administration. While American courts are unlikely to give a Chinese challenge to their President a favourable viewing, we have certainly not seen the last of windy surprises.
