Donald Trump promised that the global trade war he spoke by him would bring the “golden age of America”. For now, applying new duties to virtually the whole world (except among others Russia) causes sharp drops on the American stock exchange, and will soon threaten the development of pure energy in the US.
The United States import a huge part of clean technologies – from photovoltaic panels, through batteries and electric cars, to guides and metals used for their production. The main directions of imports are China and some other Asian countries, covered by high duties.
This means that the cost of clean technologies will increase, and the pace of replacing them fossil fuels in the US may fall.
Clean technologies will increase
Already during the presidency of Joe Biden, photovoltaic panels or other non -emission technologies from China were covered by additional fees, which was to support domestic production. But now, by the decision of Donald Trump, as much as 54 percent are added to them. – notes “Bloomberg”. This means a sharp increase in prices that Americans will pay, e.g. on Chinese photovoltaic panels. Replacing them with new domestic production will not be easy or fast – if possible at all. And panels or other technologies produced in the country will not necessarily be cheaper, even taking into account customs, because production costs in America would be higher.
How will China react to it? According to “Bloomberg” analysts, they will try to redirect most of their production of clean technologies to other countries, including those with medium and lower income. However, there will be more people willing to handle other markets.
Energy problems
The US is importing solar panels, including From Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, which were also covered by high duties. Customs applied to India (26 percent) are relatively lower, which they can use to some extent.
However, “Bloomberg” journalists emphasize – in the end “no one wins on it”. Because the whole world must speed up the green transformation, and each delay will only deteriorate the effects of pollutants from fossil fuels and will intensify the warming of the climate.
Portal “Scientific American“He points out that customs will mean trouble for the US energy sector, because without them he was struggling with the shortcomings of devices and parts, such as transformers and installation components.
When America is lagging behind, other countries can use the situation to some extent. Pressure to find new markets for renewable energy sources and electric cars can make the boom on these technologies start in new places, including in developing countries. On the other hand, adapting to new conditions can take years, so any positive effects will not necessarily be felt.
Climate attack
These effects of Trump's customs policy are unlikely to be a worry for the president himself, who – like We have already written in Gazeta.pl – It aims to weaken or even get rid of climate policy from the US government agenda.
Trump began his second term – like the first – from making a decision to leave the Paris Agreement, i.e. a global pact to stop climate change. Later, the cuts of full -time jobs in administration – which is dealt with by the billionaire Elon Musk – affected, among others, the National Oceans Agency and the atmosphere, which not only deals with the weather forecasting, but also the climate test. Incentives and relief programs for clean technologies have also been cut.
Although the climate change caused by man is a scientific fact – and the USA is the largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases – the current president has repeatedly denied global warming, and even called it “Chinese mystification”.