Chinese government subsidies to the energy industry may be among nearly 200 items the U.S. is complaining about before the World Trade Organization.

"Under pressure from Congress to do more to confront China on economic issues, the Obama administration has notified the World Trade Organization of nearly 200 Chinese subsidy programs, saying many of them may violate free trade rules.

Ron Kirk, the United States trade representative, said in a statement on Thursday that many of the subsidies had been identified in a yearlong American inquiry into how the Chinese government helped bankroll the rapid growth of its clean energy industries. In solar and wind power, in particular, American companies have had trouble keeping up with Chinese competitors."

Keith Bradsher reports for the New York Times October 6, 2011. [2]