Levin, Rangel Applaud Initiation of WTO Case Challenging Indian Solar “Local Content” Policies

Feb 6, 2013

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Charles Rangel (D-NY) applauded today’s decision by the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate a case challenging the “local content” requirements of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.

Rep. Levin:  “While the goals of India’s National Solar Mission are commendable, the program relies on policies that undercut producers in the United States and elsewhere.  These policies violate India’s international trade obligations and unfairly tilt the playing field.  I commend USTR on seeking to address these problems.”

Rep. Rangel:  “We are seeing a disturbing trend of countries increasingly resorting to trade-distortive ‘local content’ requirements like the ones being challenged by USTR today.  I am pleased to see USTR going after them and making sure that our trading partners play by the rules.”

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