The trade dispute between the US and China over the dominance of green technologies (e-cars, batteries, wind and solar systems) is also spilling over to Europe. The US has just drastically increased tariffs on Chinese green technologies, and the EU has also taken trade-restrictive measures against China, including against Chinese solar producers. The low-cost imports of Chinese solar cells and modules have recently led to discussions in Germany as well. For Meyer Burger's solar factory in Freiberg/Saxony, foreign competition was a reason for its closure.
In this episode, trade consultant Thomas Fritz from PowerShift and moderator Antonia Vangelista talk about what the trade dispute about solar energy is all about. We explain blind spots in the debate and how trade-restrictive measures in the solar sector could affect climate protection, human rights and international justice.
To listen and read more:
- publication “Climate Check Trade Policy: How climate-friendly is European trade policy?” (Reference to the solar industry in Chapter 4)
- Publication ‘Over-Exposed - Uyghur Region Exposure Assessment for Solar Industry Sourcing“ (Alan Crowford and Laura Murphy; Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice
