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BRUSSELS — Canada lost an appeal at the World Trade Organization on Monday in a ruling on incentives offered to local companies, a case that has already led to legal challenges over suspicions of similar perks elsewhere.

Japan and the European Union brought the case over a scheme intended to promote renewable energy in the province of Ontario.

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It offered above-market prices for electricity supplied by renewable energy companies but only offered the premium to firms who bought most of their equipment locally.

Monday’s appeal decision revised some of a December ruling in which the Japan and the EU had won most of the case.

But it left in place the key finding that Ontario’s incentives were illegal because they discriminated against foreign firms.

“Today’s ruling is good news for everyone caring about clean energy and the environment: It has been made clear that use of quality, cost-effective technologies should not be hampered by protectionist measures,” EU trade spokesman John Clancy said in a statement.