CHINA has lodged a complaint at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the US imposition of tariffs on Chinese solar energy products and support American renewable energy firms, arguing that the policy undermines the WTO rules, Reuters reports.

China's Commerce Ministry has also released a statement accusing the US of distorting the global market and harming China's interests through its protection of the solar power industry.

Washington announced it would impose 30 per cent tariffs on imported solar photovoltaic products, with the tariff rate gradually reducing to 15 per cent over the next four years.