We are thrilled to collaborate with China, says Biden administration economic official
Joe Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping (Getty Images)
The United States recognizes that it cannot exclude China from the green energy supply chain, as stated by a top official from the Biden administration on Friday. This comes just a month after President Joe Biden announced plans to bring critical supply chains and technologies back home.
“This is not about China. We are thrilled to work with them on this, and currently, we source many minerals from Chinese companies,” said Jose Fernandez, Biden’s under secretary for economic growth and the environment, during a press briefing. “The bigger picture is climate change, and we cannot solve the climate crisis without the involvement of the PRC.”
Fernandez’s remarks challenge the rationale behind the Inflation Reduction Act and other climate-focused measures by the Biden administration. These initiatives allocated over $8.5 billion to counter China and establish a domestic green energy supply chain. China currently dominates the production and processing of minerals necessary for electric car batteries, solar panels, and other green technologies, an issue that Biden has pledged to address through his climate spending.
“For years, China dominated the clean energy supply chains. … Not anymore,” emphasized Biden during a speech on August 16, celebrating the Inflation Reduction Act. “We are building it here and sending the product over there. No, I mean it. We’re bringing critical supply chains and technologies home for electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, critical minerals.”
However, Fernandez’s admission on Friday indicates that the administration is willing to continue collaborating with China in the fight against the “climate crisis.” During his briefing, Fernandez praised China as the “second-largest economy in the world” and “a major trading partner of the U.S.,” affirming that the Biden administration will persist in working with them.
In recent months, the Biden administration has made efforts to negotiate a new climate agreement with China, which emits more greenhouse gases than all developed nations combined. Unfortunately, these efforts have not yet succeeded. In July, for instance, Biden administration climate czar John Kerry embarked on a three-day trip to Beijing with the aim of making progress on China’s climate commitments, but he was unable to achieve his objective. Despite this, Kerry deemed the trip successful, citing “long and very detailed meetings” and “frank conversations.”
While Fernandez expressed the administration’s willingness to collaborate with China on climate change, Chinese president Xi Jinping has not reciprocated the same sentiment. During Kerry’s visit, Xi, who did not meet with the Biden administration official, asserted that his nation’s climate goals “will never be influenced by others.”
Kerry later agreed with Xi’s statement and argued against making demands of the Chinese. “We all agree that nobody should be ‘dictated to,’ and we’re not doing that,” Kerry stated before departing from Beijing.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
How does the Biden administration’s approach of collaborating with China in the green energy sector differ from the previous administration’s approach
The United States has relied heavily on China for the supply of critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies,” Fernandez explained. “But as we strive to transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economy, it is essential that we establish a robust domestic supply chain that can meet our growing demand for these minerals.”
Fernandez acknowledged that while the US is making efforts to expand its mining and processing capabilities, it will take time to fully develop a domestic supply chain. In the meantime, collaboration with China is crucial to ensure a steady and reliable supply of critical minerals.
“We recognize that China has made significant investments in developing its own green energy industry,” Fernandez said. “They have the expertise and infrastructure that we can learn from and leverage in our own efforts. By working together, we can address the challenges of climate change more effectively and create a more sustainable future.”
The Biden administration’s stance on collaborating with China in the green energy sector is seen as a departure from the previous administration’s approach. Former President Donald Trump had taken a more confrontational stance, imposing tariffs on Chinese goods and pursuing a policy of economic decoupling.
The Biden administration, however, believes that cooperation is essential for addressing global challenges like climate change. The two largest economies in the world working together to develop green technologies and reduce emissions can have a significant impact on the global fight against climate change.
“We understand the need to compete with China in certain areas, but we also recognize the importance of collaboration,” Fernandez emphasized. “We can achieve much more by working together than by isolating ourselves. This is not about compromising our national interests; it is about finding common ground and pursuing shared goals.”
The United States and China are expected to discuss further collaboration on climate issues during the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. Both countries have set ambitious targets to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, and cooperation between them will be crucial in achieving these goals.
As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition to green energy and combat climate change, it is increasingly clear that international cooperation and collaboration are essential. Despite geopolitical tensions and diverging ideologies, the Biden administration’s approach of working with China in the green energy sector sends a strong message: the fight against climate change requires collective efforts and a united front.
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