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China’s New Energy Strategy Under Scrutiny by Europe and the U.S.; the U.S. Aims to Monopolize Global Green‑Energy Discourse

Release Date:

2023-04-10

Source:

Network

The 5,800-page complaint is a grueling physical and intellectual undertaking for both its drafters and its readers. Yet the United Steelworkers Union did not hesitate to file this massive document, accusing China of “protectionist and predatory measures” in support of its domestic clean‑energy sector. The insidiousness of this approach lies in the fact that the United States recognizes the critical importance of clean energy: it embodies America’s vision of leading the 21st‑century global economy, Europe’s aspiration to become the “new Middle East,” and, above all, the aspirations of developing countries like China to rise on the world stage. Whoever turns these dreams into reality will seize the commanding heights of the future world. Recently, Europe and the United States—holders of key new‑energy technologies—have observed China’s market share in related products steadily expanding, prompting the launch of a concerted campaign to contain China’s clean‑energy sector. As one Swedish scholar put it, when it comes to China’s new‑energy industry, Europe is a hypocrite while the United States is a true opportunist; their aim is to keep China in check and vie for dominance over the global order.

China, the U.S., and Europe are staging a “New Energy Three Kingdoms” saga.

On September 9, the United Steelworkers union formally submitted a 5,800-page complaint to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, alleging that China’s unlawful trade practices threaten the U.S. clean‑energy sector. The complaint charges that both the central and provincial governments have subsidized domestic firms through land allocations, low‑interest loans, and a variety of other measures. It further contends that, in an effort to dominate the global clean‑energy industry, the Chinese government has provided massive subsidies to help Chinese companies expand their market share in wind turbines, solar panels, nuclear power plants, and other clean‑energy technologies, while discriminating against foreign firms and products and restricting foreign companies’ access to critical raw materials. As a result, Chinese clean‑energy players have emerged as global leaders, while U.S. and European companies have faced severe financial difficulties and resorted to widespread layoffs. United Steelworkers President David R. MacIver stated, “Green jobs are vital to America’s future, yet China is leaving no stone unturned to seize control of this sector, and U.S. manufacturing cannot afford to keep conceding.”

The United Steelworkers union has clearly sought to take this case to the voters, putting President Obama to the test, as he has urged Americans to build their own clean‑energy industry. “The nation that leads the world in clean energy will lead the 21st‑century global economy—and America must be that nation!” In his State of the Union address on January 27 this year, President Barack Obama vowed to devote every effort to advancing clean energy. Indeed, since taking office, Obama has consistently pursued leadership in the emerging energy sector. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allocated $43.35 billion to develop clean energy, underscoring that the new‑energy industry not only bolsters national energy independence but also holds vast potential for job creation and economic restructuring. In September 2009, the U.S. Innovation Strategy identified the development and deployment of new‑energy technologies as a priority area for the nation’s future, with plans to vigorously promote the growth of the clean‑energy sector over the next decade and enhance America’s competitiveness in the global clean‑energy market.

Europe, the birthplace of the “green economy,” has been quick to follow suit. In 2007, the European Commission unveiled a comprehensive energy package that designated the low-carbon economy as the path forward. EU Energy Commissioner Günter Verheugen emphasized that the EU’s new energy strategy would spark a “new industrial revolution” across Europe. In March 2009, the EU announced it would allocate €105 billion by 2013 to support the green economy, aiming to maintain the Union’s global leadership in low-carbon industries.

China started late in the field of new energy, but has advanced rapidly. China’s renewable energy sector has also become a global leader. The country now leads the world in solar panel production, with the majority of its output exported abroad. In wind power, China ranked first worldwide in newly installed capacity in 2009. However, this impressive performance in renewables is hardly surprising: in 2009, China invested $34.6 billion in clean energy, making it one of the world’s largest investors in renewable energy.

Keywords:

China’s New Energy Strategy Under Scrutiny by Europe and the U.S.; the U.S. Aims to Monopolize Global Green‑Energy Discourse

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