Do U.S. EV Supports Threaten EU Energy Transition?

Biden and the EU's von der Leyen meet to ease tensions over trade, subsidy concerns

Rob Schmitz, March 10, 2023 (NPR)

“President Joe Biden will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Washington Friday in an effort to reduce tensions over trade, maintain a unified focus on achieving a green economy, while hoping to jointly take on China's hold on clean energy technologies and supply chains…[The Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA] promises tax breaks to companies making technology for clean energy, like electrics vehicles and batteries, but only if their operations are located on U.S. soil…

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European leaders are concerned EU companies will flee Europe to cash-in…The Biden administration appears open to addressing some of these concerns…[Some in the EU see the potential for blackmail, with multinationals like chemical giant BASF and car manufacturer BMW] trying to squeeze billions of dollars out of an already cash-strapped EU…[leaving the EU with] less money to help incentivize carbon-saving climate goals…[The result would be that] the environment loses and big multinationals win…

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The Biden administration appears open to addressing some EU's concerns. The White House would prefer to have a partnership so that the U.S. and EU can work together to instead reduce their dependence on China, which controls many of the rare earth minerals, their processing and manufacturing, needed for this clean energy transition…” click here for more

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