In 1957, Mao ordered 60 million Chinese to "cook steel" and built 240,000 small blast furnaces. That was the beginning of a steel addiction that has driven China's steel production up year after year ever since. With state-subsidized steel, Beijing floods the world market. Now, Xi Jinping says this has to stop because the steel glut is counteracting his goals for reducing CO2 emissions.
By Antje Sirleschtov
Beijing wants to regulate the import and export of rare earths even more strictly. This is bad news for the EU, which imports almost 98 percent of its requirements of these metals from China. For years, China has systematically bought the market dry and hoarded the raw materials. The EU should have acted long ago but underestimated the issue. Now Brussels is frantically looking for alternatives.
By Frank Sieren
Asian governments, including China, have issued political climate targets. If they are to be achieved, relations between Beijing and Washington must be stable. In Asia, the challenge now is to mobilize private-sector forces to drive carbon reduction. It's about green financial instruments, transparency and clear guidance on standards.
By Ning Wang
Since China has been active in Africa, Europe has also been working on new concepts for the continent. It's about time. First of all the EU must change its trade agreements with Africa. Because they offer Africa no incentives.
By Antje Sirleschtov
The recycling of spent EV batteries is still in its infancy worldwide. China will soon be the first country to be confronted with a gigantic amount of used batteries. The first recycling factories have been set up. Rules and standards for recycling have already been set. For example, by law, EV companies must collect their used batteries everywhere they sell cars. One of the pioneers in recycling is electric car pioneer BYD.
By Christiane Kuehl
