WTO Ruling Against India's Solar Push Threatens Climate, Clean Energy

This could be posted in any number of forums, 'fragile earth', 'meltdown' - really economics I guess, social unrest even but I decided upon political because, frankly, anything having to do with groups of people and their disputes is politics by definition.

India was sued by the United States of America for having the adasity to promote energy independence and - and local businesses:

As power demands grow in India, the country's government put forth a plan to create 100,000 megawatts of energy from solar cells and modules, and included incentives to domestic manufacturers to use locally-developed equipment.

As the international lobbying arm of Big Business the US government filed suit with the WTO (World Tade Organization:

According to Indian news outlets, the WTO ruled that India had discriminated against American manufacturers by providing such incentives, which violates global trade rules, and struck down those policies—siding with the U.S. government in a case that the Sierra Club said demonstrates the environmentally and economically destructive power of pro-corporate deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

So much for FREE trade.

This program by the Indian government would benefit their own citizens and promote renewalble energy source for 'emerging' economies but the Monied Interests as represented by both the US and the WTO believe that profit trumps all other consideration and that, my friends is the entire purpose of, so-called, "free trade agreements'.

and get this...

It isn't the only time that India, in trying to protect her interests, has been bullied by the US and the WTO. The last time was over food:

The Indian government will appeal the decision to the WTO's highest court, the appellate body. It is the second time that the WTO has ruled against India in a case with the U.S., which first brought legal action against the country's food security program in 2014.

The WTO ruled on that case in June, when it decided that the Indian ban on certain foods from the U.S. was "inconsistent with the global norms."

Honestly, I don't see how anyone - anyone at all - can support these agreements or vote for a representative that does support them. They don't benefit anyone except the slave masters.

The short article can be found:

www.commondreams.org...

a reply to: FyreByrd

By the way, those 'American Manufacturers' that were 'discriminated' against most likely do all their 'manufacturering' in China or other wage slave countries not in the US.

I hope India tells the WTO to STICK IT!!!

I

a reply to: FyreByrd

The greed is overwhelming.. and pathetic.
Simply put, its f#&k the world, because stockholders are more important. Sick

I wonder who those Manufacturers are...

Indeed India should quite rightly tell the WTO to DO ONE!

They have enough issues trying to dig themselves a better future
as it is without rubbish like this how does the methods employed
by India to generate its OWN power affect US interests does India
currently buy coal and turbines from us owned company's?
i dont know but even if so what an individual or a state can buy its products
or services from who or where ever it likes.

Or is capitalist free trade only only allowed when it benefits the federal republic of the united states?

a reply to: FyreByrd

This story, and others relating to similar technologies being repressed, and off grid living being prevented by arbitrary regulations which have no place in a rustic life, are part of a mounting dossier of information pertaining to the erosion of the rights of the needy to utilise the best technology for them, the best lifestyle for them, the best fit for their economic capacity.

The ability of societies to make use of mechanisms and technologies which will secure them against being placed over a barrel by the price of oil and gas, or at least lessen the drain on resources that power production can represent, is absolutely vital to ensure that developing nations, and for that matter developed ones, can make the best of what they have.

Any law which prevents it, national, or international, cannot be just in practice, and therefore cannot be lawful in any reasonable definition of the word. These agreements represent nothing more than protectionism on the part of some of the wealthiest companies on this planet, and affect the poorest and the most in need of clean and cheap energy.

I am not surprised, but I am disgusted.

originally posted by: TrueBrit


I am not surprised, but I am disgusted.

When governments do horrible things, and The People are not surprised...it is a pretty damning condemnation of The People.

Us saying we aren't surprised is admitting that we identified risk that we failed to address. In some cases this kind of thing can be criminal. But when it comes to voting...its just business as usual. Meanwhile, we still get to insult our intelligence by participating in the farcicle political dialogue.

wow.. I'm shocked (but shouldn't be) at the level of greed that is continually shoved in our faces.
"F### the world!" if it makes someone a few bucks somewhere
Good for India in trying to do something helpful- I hope they stick to their guns and indeed tells them to SHOVE IT! Absolutely disgusted and amazed at what the world has come to.. Truly in disbelief.. I don't even know what else to say

Somebody can locate something on the WTO site?

WTO



Added:
India — Certain Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

I think it is fair to say BFFT, that those of us who see these things coming, are least able to affect their outcomes.

Common sense, you see, is the least common commodity in the world, and grows ever rarer as time progresses. To affect change, numbers are required, and not simply numbers, but numbers of people who have common sense, to vote for candidates who would never support any such thing coming to pass, as these outrageous international deals.

The trouble is, that as well as protest groups, one needs politicians to be trustworthy, and interested in the needs of people, rather than in the desires of those driven purely by avarice.

At the moment, we are in a position, certainly in my nation, where those of us who see the writing on the wall do not have the benefit of being great enough in number to get anything bloody done about it. So a lack of surprise, and a surplus of disgust is the unfortunate result.

India should just do what the US does, when the WTO rules against the US.

Ignore it and carry on like nothing happened.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Well...its not a personal condemnation. Its more an observation of the reality of what we are doing as a culture/civilization.

And I just don't really know. The future for humanity has possibly never been more uncertain. Technology, and what is can do....that is the wildcard. We are drawn to technology, even at the risk of losing our individual freedom among the mass. Technology in the short term will likely continue to promote the hive mentality, as greater levels of social connection are encouraged and supported. This is terrifying to me.

I could hope that AI would save us. But the notion of a superintelligent machine is no less terrifying.

I don't know if salvation for us is even possible.

The US currency, the dollar, relies on oil to keep its value.

Its not hard to figure out why the US sued India is it?

originally posted by: Nexttimemaybe
The US currency, the dollar, relies on oil to keep its value.

Its not hard to figure out why the US sued India is it?

Yeah, its cheaper than bombing them.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

First of all BFFT, I never once thought that your previous comment was a condemnation of my point of view. I know by now what you think about most of this stuff, and where you are coming from. We find ourselves on similar pages, and often on the same paragraph on these things often enough after all!

And you are absolutely on the money there. The wildcard is the technology, but it seems the house wishes to limit the use of that wildcard. Playing with the joker in the deck, but only being able to use it if it does not result in a loss for the big power structures, will see an increasingly connected populous become disgruntled to an even greater degree than is already the case. However, that disgruntlement will be buffered by placatory statements on the part of politicians who will, with their very next breath, shoot down all opposition to the money pit economics of oil and gas, of nuclear and the like.

This is why I call for distributed democracy, where the people are the parliament, the congress, the PM and the POTUS, instead of individuals. Individuals take bribes, but populations ARE the big picture. When enough people are made aware not only of the truth of these things, but are given the power to change them directly, without interference from special interests and monied industry lobbies, we may have a chance to put at least a percentage of these wrongs, right.

While politics is still engaged in by such a tiny minority of the population of nations however, these things will not change, and all we can hope for is that the chaos hits us when we are prepared, rather than when we are asleep.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan

originally posted by: Nexttimemaybe
The US currency, the dollar, relies on oil to keep its value.

Its not hard to figure out why the US sued India is it?

Yeah, its cheaper than bombing them.

Haha! Yes.

What you said is so true.

I like you.

It has really come down to this aye, this is really sad...

The Indian government should just ignore this, and give to the people what they were mandated to do, that is provide the necessities for their people and not give into some crazy power hungry few in a foreign country.

Where is the sovereignty? This failed system is really starting to show itself, this has got to stop. Or Maybe it's about time the aliens should show up.

Peace

a reply to: FyreByrd

Apparently USA spells GOD in the minds of these idiots.

I am so tired of the god complex that the leaders of this nation have. I think that the elitists of this world have been able to psychologically identify people with the god complex and are utilizing them as such. I don't think our leaders think they can do anything wrong.

Our leaders are facisist with a god complex. Want to know what a theocracy would look like? Welcome to America, only our god is money. Apparently the more you have the more the American god loves you and the more your opinion matters.

I'm rather curious about the actual 'trade' agreement that is being refered to in this case.

he newspaper said the WTO dispute settlement panel, in a confidential report to New Delhi and Washington, found India violated global trade rules by imposing local content requirements for solar cells and solar modules, and also struck down incentive policies such as subsidies provided for domestic solar companies to manufacture cells and solar modules.

finance.yahoo.com...

Global Trade Rules?????

Ahh, here's a bit more from the original source of the story....

WTO members are not supposed to insist on national content requirements that discriminate against foreign products. Governments are also required to provide “national” treatment, under which imports must be treated on a par with domestically manufactured products.

WTO rules? "...are not supposed to.."

It looks like India is going to give the US the *****:

“We will appeal against the judgement at WTO’s highest court, the appellate body, which could give us two years’ reprieve. There can also be a bilateral arrangement with the US since it is an important trading partner,” the official said.

a bit on the earlier ruling, I don't think you can really separate the two:

This is the second case that India has lost to the US at the WTO. In June, the WTO’s appellate body upheld an earlier ruling against an Indian ban on poultry meat and eggs supplied by American producers. The ban had been imposed to prevent an outbreak of avian influenza.

Payback, perhaps?

According to this article the US practises similar 'incentive' or 'Made in the USA' programs though I've not heard of one in a long (decades) time.

www.livemint.com...

I am sick to death of these 'loss of potential profit' rules and the secrecy surrounding them. Isn't the 'sole' moral reason for 'profit' the taking of 'risk'?

But that rule has warped into: Free Enterprise equals Massive Private Profit at Worldwide Public Expense.

On the 'transparency' issue and as an aside, a one-way window (they know all about us) is not transparent. Transparency requires - absolutely requires full knowledge in both directions.

originally posted by: peck420
India should just do what the US does, when the WTO rules against the US.

Ignore it and carry on like nothing happened.

Don't think the US has ever ignored a wto ruling, could be wrong.

Whatever long live free trade and thank the lovely people who are giving us the tpp. The isds tribunals that will be the ruling authority for tpp will make this the norm. You ain't see nothing yet.