The US and EU tariff war on China is destructive on a whole new level
President Joe Biden imposed tariffs on many Chinese products in May this year, including electric cars and solar panels. In Europe, this approach has been hugely critiqued for being bad for the environment and even furthering the effects of global warming.
The EU has retried its former position, probably because of pressure from the US. There are two significant elements here that are stupid beyond belief:
Cars are responsible for 48% of global carbon dioxide emissions and 61% of emissions in the European Union. Hence, we have a dire need for affordable electric cars. Tesla and other Western brands are not affordable to the ordinary person, especially not cars made for families. China offers quality electric cars at affordable prices.
When it comes to many components in the electronic industry and the automobile industry specifically, the price of manufacturing those components at the same quality that China can produce them would be costly and make business ventures almost impossible in the long run.
The Chinese societal system allows workers to live decent lives on much lower wages than in the West. For this to be theoretically possible, the West would need to drop the workers' salaries and expect them to work pretty much pro bono, or they would have to rearrange nearly all of the Western economic model and try to emulate the Chinese model. Neither is plausible.
When the Russia-Ukraine war began, there was much discussion regarding sanctions against Russia. Many members of the European Parliament who otherwise voted for sanctions thought that the EU would need to make an exception for products and services that are crucial for the environment due to the environmental crisis we are facing.
China is way more important than Russia in terms of technology and economy. So why are politicians not thinking clearly in this case?
Cooperation with China will benefit people in general more than conflict.
The more people can afford electric cars, the less pollution and carbon emissions we will have. Today, cars are the largest single emission source. Fighting climate change is, of course, in everyone's favor.
Easier to produce goods at a much cheaper price. China can make cheap products and components and deliver them of excellent quality! This combination is vital, especially in electronics and cars, China's cutting-edge industry.
The Western economy is already strained. Making it impossible for Chinese
companies to do business in Europe will cost tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people their jobs.
All in all, tariffs and/or bans on Chinese products will not only be counterproductive for the countries imposing those sanctions but also for the whole world and the environment our Western leaders claim to protect.
This is a debate article by Christian Pavón, Sweden, for NewsVoice.se/english.
Christian Pavón is an European lawyer with an interest in politics, law, culture and geopolitics. He is a freelancer and part of the NewsVoice editorial team. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
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