Pentagon Must “Buy American,” Barring Chinese Solar Panels

Technological advancements increasingly center on green-energy products, an arena of growing US-China rivalry. In particular, the US military supports development of renewable energy sources because fossil fuels are difficult to transport to war zones like Afghanistan. Nations compete to boost their own manufacturers: The US and Europe generally subsidize the solar-panel customers while China subsidizes its manufacturers, reports Keith Bradsher for the New York Times. US panels cost about 20 percent more than imported panels. China is the leading manufacturer of solar panels, and yet a military authorization law requires that the Pentagon purchase solar panels made in the US, a provision crafted to comply with World Trade Organization trade rules. Most industrialized nations – though not yet China – have agreed to WTO rules on free trade in government procurement. By opening its own markets, China could boost its solar-panel sales. – YaleGlobal