According to reports, the European Union plans to impose restrictions on solar panels and components originating in China. However, German Economy Minister Habeck, who has repeatedly threatened to "de-risk" China, has expressed concern about EU restrictions. In November last year, Habeck sent a letter to the European Commission expressing his opposition to restrictions on Chinese solar products**, noting that the restrictions could affect the development of renewable energy in Europe and adversely affect EU companies. Habeck's opposition attracted the attention of Germany.
Restatement Expansion: The news that the EU plans to impose restrictions on China's PV industry has attracted the attention of Germany. German Economy Minister Habeck has repeatedly stated that he wants to reduce economic and trade risks with China, but after the EU plan was announced, he has expressed unusual concerns. This has attracted a lot of attention, with speculation about whether Germany will support EU restrictions. At the same time, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also expressed his attitude to the measure through practical actions.
According to Germany's Frankfork Allgemeine Zeitung, Scholz plans to lead a business delegation to China in April this year. This news shows that Scholz** has changed his China policy after the "China Strategy" published last year. In the past, Germany has always attached importance to "de-risking China", but now Scholz's planned visit to China is in stark contrast to the previous one.
Restatement of expansion: Scholz plans to lead a business delegation to China in April, and the news has been widely discussed in Germany**. The purpose of the visit may be manifold. First of all, Germany hopes to strengthen its business cooperation with China and promote the economic development of both sides through this trip. In the past few years, China has become an important partner of Germany, and the German automotive and machinery manufacturing industry is booming in the Chinese market. Second, Scholz may want to use the visit to promote cooperation between China and the EU, especially in the field of energy. China has made tremendous progress in renewable energy, and Germany** may want to learn from China's experience and drive Germany's energy transition. Finally, the visit may also involve mediation on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Germany hopes to stabilize the situation by promoting cooperation between China and the EU.
Habeck's German Green Party takes environmental protection as its core concept, and has made every effort to promote the decarbonization of energy in Germany since coming to power. However, the biggest obstacle to mass adoption of solar panels in Germany is cost. At present, China has monopolized most of the world's solar panel production capacity, and the competition in the photovoltaic market has become very fierce through the first battle. If Habeck insists on "Germany First", there is a risk that the promotion of Germany's renewable energy strategy will be seriously lagging behind, and may not even be able to move forward. This is an unbearable outcome for the Greens, who are committed to making Germany an environmental pioneer.
Restatement and expansion: The German Green Party has always taken environmental protection as its core concept, and has been committed to promoting the zero-carbon energy of Germany since taking office. However, Germany faces some challenges in the large-scale adoption of solar panels. First of all, there is the issue of cost, China has monopolized most of the world's solar panel production capacity, and has made the PV market fierce through the first war. If Germany insists on prioritizing itself, there is a risk that its strategy for homegrown renewables will lag behind. Second, Germany's technology and production capacity in the field of solar energy are relatively lagging behind, and it needs to rely on China's technology and production capacity to promote development. This is a conundrum for both the Germans and the Greens, who want to work together to solve the problem.
Not only Germany, but also the rest of Europe is facing the problem of changing relations with China. The EU plans to use renewable energy to open up new economic growth points, but the high cost of manufacturing in Europe has limited the EU's development in this area. In addition, the EU is currently under pressure to aid Ukraine, which has increased the challenges facing the European economy. Only by abandoning the prejudice against "Made in China" and recognizing the importance and urgency of cooperation with China can European countries get out of the current predicament.
Restatement and expansion: European countries' cooperative relations with China face the problem of transformation. The EU originally hoped to open up new economic growth points through renewable energy, but the high cost of manufacturing in Europe has limited development in this sector. At the same time, the EU is also under pressure to aid Ukraine, which poses a challenge for the EU economy. Facts have once again proved that European countries need to abandon the prejudice against "Made in China" and recognize the importance and urgency of cooperation with China in order to get out of the current predicament. Otherwise, the greater the pressure the EU exerts on China, the more serious the backlash will be.