International Trade Disputes on Renewable Energy: Testing Ground for the Mutual Supportiveness of WTO Law and Climate Change Law

This article explores the relationship between renewable energy support policies and World Trade Organization (WTO) law on unfair trade practices. It analyzes the Canada-Renewable Energy case at the WTO, where an open conflict between trade rules and climate policy was arguably avoided only through a heavily criticized interpretation of the definition of subsidies by the WTO dispute settlement bodies. It draws attention to broader challenges in the relationship between renewable energy support policies and the current WTO subsidies law. The article also discusses the AD590-Solar Panels trade dispute between the European Union and China, examining the complex relationship between cheap solar panel exports, anti-dumping duties and EU climate policy objectives.