Experts say EU restrictions on Chinese green technology imports are a mistake
Experts and academics have expressed their criticism of the European Union's decision to implement import restrictions on China's green energy products and technologies.
![Experts say EU restrictions on Chinese green technology imports are a mistake](https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-08-13/EU-limiting-China-s-green-technology-imports-a-mistake-experts-1w1XyppvGg0/img/a835a52fa28e4614b8a1122f8f8e7238/a835a52fa28e4614b8a1122f8f8e7238-1920.png?#)
In a discussion with South China Morning Post, Nobel laureate in economics, Michael Spence, commented on China's prominent role in solar, electric vehicle (EV), and battery technology. He described Western countries' efforts to restrict imports of these critical components for the energy transition as misguided.
"The cost of that is very high in terms of the sustainability agenda," he stated.
An article in the Financial Times highlighted rising concerns within Europe that the region might fail to meet its carbon emissions objectives without relying on Chinese technology.
Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at the think tank Bruegel, expressed concerns that the EU's focus on relocating production and replacing imports with domestic manufacturing could decelerate the energy transition in Europe.
Because doing so would elevate the cost, remarked Tagliapietra, as quoted by the article.
Jonathan Cole, CEO of Corio Generation, a global wind development company, supported this perspective.
He pointed out that excluding Chinese firms from the global supply chain would "significantly hamper" the EU’s efforts to achieve its de-carbonization goals.
Michael Dunne, founder of Dunne Insights, a global intelligence and advisory firm, used a metaphor to describe the European tariffs on Chinese cars in a newsletter.
He said that the imposition of tariffs will not stop China's advancement in the field.
In recent times, the EU has initiated several investigations targeting Chinese imports, which include solar panels, EVs, and wind turbines.
Last Friday saw China appealing to the World Trade Organization against the EU's decision to apply additional tariffs on imports of Chinese EVs.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News