Reference News Network August 4 report: Germany's "Tagesspiegel" website published an article titled "China is More Important than the United States in Energy Production" on August 2. The author is Jonas Wack. The following is a compilation of the article:

It can already be stated that the agreement between the EU and the US on tariff disputes is very absurd. After EU Commission President von der Leyen and US President Trump shook hands at the Turnberry Golf Course in Scotland, and agreed to impose a 15% tariff on EU products, Washington and Brussels began to circulate conflicting interpretations: Will steel and aluminum products still be subject to a 50% tariff? Will EU food safety standards align with those of the US? Will EU digital regulatory rules give green lights to Silicon Valley giants?

The most absurd thing is that von der Leyen promised to import $75 billion worth of American energy within three years, or $25 billion per year. However, in 2024, the value of US-EU energy trade was only over $70 billion. It is unrealistic to believe that EU imports of energy from the US will double and take up shares from other trading partners.

Additionally, the US exported about $166 billion worth of oil and gas overseas last year. In order to comply with the agreement reached at Turnberry, the US must transport every drop of oil and every cubic meter of natural gas to Europe.

Therefore, this $75 billion agreement is impossible to achieve.

The EU yielded to Trump out of fear of doubled tariffs, but it cannot guarantee that he will not change his mind tomorrow. To get out of this dilemma, EU member states must strengthen defense policy cooperation and reduce their reliance on US weapons. But most importantly, EU member states must expand the use of renewable energy, replace gas heating with heat pumps, and replace internal combustion engines with rail transport and electric vehicles. In this way, Europe will no longer rely on fossil fuel imports.

For this, the EU needs partners. In terms of climate and energy policy - we must honestly admit - the most important partner is China.

If we want to catch up in the fields of batteries and electric vehicles, we cannot ignore China's experience. The fossil fuels exported by the US are destroying our prosperity, while China helps the world reduce carbon emissions by selling solar panels, electric vehicles, and batteries.

Yes, it would have been better if Europe had not given up its market leadership in green technology to China. But a world where the EU cooperates with China is much better than the absurd and climate disaster that Trump wants to impose on us. (Translated by Nie Litao)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534565045053833782/

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