XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, alt.politics.republicans, talk.politics.guns

The US is going to be in the same boat as EU if these tree hugger fools
keep pushing climate change.

'China's Control Over Electric Vehicle Batteries and the Threat to the
European Automotive Industry'

<https://gatewayhispanic.com/2025/01/chinas-control-over-electric-vehicle-batteries-and-the-threat-to-the-european-automotive-industry/>

'China is emerging as the primary threat to the European automotive
industry, not just because of its strategy to dominate the electric
vehicle (EV) market but also due to its complete control over the raw
materials necessary for production.

In a world transitioning to cleaner energy, Europe's dependence on
Chinese batteries for electric cars exposes a dangerous vulnerability.
While Brussels celebrates its green transition, Beijing plays
geopolitical chess, putting the European Union in check.

China: A Monopoly Disguised as Progress

China's masterstroke has been its total control over the strategic
resources needed for electric vehicle battery production. Specifically, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and gallium have become tools of geopolitical leverage.

The Asian country controls more than 70% of the critical raw materials
for batteries, dominating not only their extraction but also the
refining processes. For example, while much of the world's lithium is
found in Latin America and Australia, China has secured exploitation
contracts, granting it a near-absolute monopoly on global supply.

What began as an economic strategy focused on resource procurement has
evolved into an aggressive tactic of political influence. While Europe struggles to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, China ensures there is
no alternative but its own batteries. Europeans are caught in Beijing's
web, unable to progress toward true independence.

Tariffs and Retaliation: A Suitable Measure for Europe?

In response to China's unstoppable advance, the European Union
implemented tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. It imposed
countervailing duties on imported battery-electric passenger cars from
China. This decision followed a 13-month anti-dumping investigation by
the European Commission, which concluded that China's battery electric
vehicle (BEV) value chain “benefits from unfair subsidies causing a
threat of economic harm to BEV producers in the EU.”

The EU is applying these new tariffs in addition to the pre-existing 10%
import tariffs on vehicles, based on each manufacturer's contribution to
the research and the subsidies they were deemed to have benefited from.

However, these measures appear to be a temporary fix that does not
address the root problem. China's control over the critical raw
materials for battery production poses a far greater threat than any
tariff.

Despite the EU's attempts to protect its automotive industry, China's
influence over the global battery market remains unstoppable. Far from
being intimidated, China responded shrewdly: instead of confronting
Europe openly, it wielded its most lethal weapon—export restrictions. By limiting the sale of materials like lithium and gallium, Beijing makes
it clear that it will stop at nothing to maintain its dominance in the
electric vehicle industry. Europe, dependent on Chinese supplies, finds
itself unable to defend its autonomy in this critical sector.


The Destruction of European Industry: NorthVolt's Collapse

One of Europe's greatest failures in its effort to counter China was the bankruptcy of NorthVolt, the Swedish plant that represented the pride of
the European automotive industry. NorthVolt closed its doors in November 2024—not due to a lack of talent or resources but because the machinery
it used originated from China. The plant faced constant failures and operational challenges as the machines were not adequately adapted to
local needs, and, worse yet, many of them weren't even translated into
English.

NorthVolt's collapse is not just an industrial failure; it is a symbol
of Europe's inability to compete with China's industrial power. European factories attempting to produce batteries for electric cars face a harsh reality: they lack not only the necessary raw materials but also the
technology and adequate infrastructure. Meanwhile, China advances
rapidly, reinforcing its dominance in both resource extraction and
high-quality battery production.

China's Strategy: A Game of Geopolitical Power

The real challenge lies ahead. Europe must not only combat technological dependency but also confront China's growing power, which extends beyond electric vehicle batteries, threatening the continent's economic and
political sovereignty. The question is clear: Will Europe be able to
free itself from Beijing's influence, or will it remain trapped in a
dangerous dependence that jeopardizes its future?

What is at stake is not just the economy. China is using its dominance
over EV batteries as a geopolitical power tool. By controlling the
strategic resources needed for the energy transition, Beijing holds a
much stronger negotiating position than any European country could
imagine. China not only imposes its will commercially but also exerts
political pressure on Europe, which finds itself unable to advance its sustainability goals without relying on Beijing's decisions.

Some analysts suggest that Europe's dependence on China for battery
production could have deeper implications, extending beyond the
automotive sector. The future of Europe's energy infrastructure,
transportation networks, and, ultimately, control over access to key technologies could end up in Chinese hands unless urgent measures are
taken.


Is Europe Truly Autonomous?

China's strategy is not just a direct attack on Europe's automotive
industry but a blow to the continent's political and economic autonomy.
If Europe genuinely wants an independent future in the era of electric vehicles, it must take decisive steps to reduce its reliance on Chinese
supply chains.

But the questions remain: Can Europe dismantle its dependence on China?
Or is it doomed to continue relying on Beijing's resources and
technology, without real control over its destiny? The EU must question
whether its decarbonization and energy transition policies are built on
solid foundations or if, in the end, its ambitions will crumble, subject
to the decisions of an authoritarian and opaque regime'

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)