Beijing - China's Ministry of Commerce on Saturday expressed "regret" over the decision of the US Trade Representative's office to investigate Chinese renewable-energy imports, and said it would defend its interests in accordance with World Trade Organization rules.

"The US government's acceptance of the appeal and its decision to launch a probe into the issue is sending a wrong signal of trade protectionism to the rest of the world," an unnamed official with the commerce ministry's division to safeguard fair foreign trade said in a statement on its website (www.mofcom.gov.cn).

The official said the US was also promoting its energy sector and more than 2,300 projects, including those related to clean energy, were eligible for government subsidies.