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US needs China for its EV industry

Encouraging Chinese investments in the US would achieve a better outcome than complaining about overproduction.

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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (left) shakes hands with China's Vice-Premier, Mr He Lifeng, in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (left) shakes hands with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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Despite signs of thawing in the relationship between China and the United States, a new chapter has opened in their trade dispute, this time relating to electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, solar panels and other green energy products. It is unlikely to have a happy ending, unless the conversation changes.

On her visit to China last week,

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen – who received a warm welcome – raised the issue in a concerned but not confrontational way that China’s “overproduction” of these goods will hurt producers and jobs in the US and many other countries.

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