中新網(wǎng)北京11月19日電(蔣鯉)據(jù)法新社報道，近日，歐盟各國財政部長在布魯塞爾召開會議表示，美國無視歐盟對其《通脹削減法案》的擔(dān)憂，或?qū)е職W盟采取報復(fù)措施。
2021年6月15日，拜登在布魯塞爾出席美國歐盟峰會時發(fā)表講話。
美國總統(tǒng)拜登于今年8月簽署《通脹削減法案》，部分條款涉及美國政府為本土電動車產(chǎn)業(yè)提供高額補貼，并將進口電動汽車排除在補貼名單之外。此舉將大幅提高美國對新能源和電動汽車產(chǎn)業(yè)的吸引力，吸引歐洲企業(yè)遷往美國。
針對這些不公平條款，歐盟競爭事務(wù)專員瑪格麗特·韋斯塔格爾(Margrethe Vestager)上月表示，“原則上，美國不應(yīng)該拿這個來對抗朋友?！狈▏偨y(tǒng)馬克龍和德國總理朔爾茨此前也表示了對美國做法的擔(dān)憂。朔爾茨更是發(fā)出警告稱，美方做法可能引發(fā)“一場巨大的關(guān)稅戰(zhàn)”。
美國不惜違反世貿(mào)組織規(guī)則，憑借不公平手段在市場競爭中占據(jù)更多優(yōu)勢，損害歐盟就業(yè)和經(jīng)濟增長，可能導(dǎo)致雙方在新能源產(chǎn)業(yè)補貼方面的摩擦升級，進而打擊歐盟與美國在多個領(lǐng)域開展合作的信心。
此前，受烏克蘭危機影響，美國拉攏歐洲盟友對俄羅斯實施嚴厲制裁，導(dǎo)致歐洲深陷能源危機。與此同時，美國趁機高價向歐洲出售液化天然氣，從中賺取巨額利益。盡管歐洲為努力減少對俄依賴尋找替代方案，但現(xiàn)實卻是，歐洲對能源的依賴依然存在，美國卻成了這場危機的最終贏家。
如今，能源價格持續(xù)高企，歐洲企業(yè)正常生產(chǎn)活動遭受沖擊，制造業(yè)面臨困境，《通脹削減法案》勢必使更多歐洲企業(yè)將生產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移至美國，使歐洲經(jīng)濟雪上加霜。
美國堅定奉行“美國優(yōu)先”原則，一方面拉攏歐盟與自己共同對抗“外敵”，一方面為維護自身利益又不惜犧牲盟友利益，這是美國的一貫作風(fēng)，其早已從歐盟不可或缺的“盟友”變成了“損友”。
若美歐雙方無法就這些矛盾達成共識，歐盟采取的報復(fù)性措施恐將引發(fā)新一輪貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)。
EU threatens retaliation in response to U.S. Inflation Reduction Bill
By John Lee
(ECNS) -- The European Union (EU) has threatened to take retaliatory measures against the U.S. over electric car subsidies that favor domestic manufacturers, according to an AFP report.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Bill into law in August, which includes state aid for electric cars made in North America and support for U.S. battery supply chains, making the U.S. more attractive to European enterprises in the new energy and electric car industries.
The EU's competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, said last month that “as a matter of principle, you should not put this up against friends,” as reported by the Financial Times. Both President of France Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed their concerns over related clauses. Scholz even warned the U.S. that the bill may trigger a tariff war.
Risking a breach in international trade rules, the U.S. has won more advantages in market competition, which will harm European employment and economic growth. This could escalate the friction between the two sides on subsidies for new energy industries, undermining the EU’s confidence to cooperate with the U.S.
Previously, affected by the Ukraine crisis, the U.S. wooed the EU to impose severe sanctions on Russia, resulting in the EU being trapped in an energy crisis. Meanwhile, the U.S. took the chance to sell liquefied natural gas to Europe at a high price and earn huge profits.
The EU has been trying to find energy alternatives to lower its dependence on Russia, forcing it to look to the U.S. as a new energy supplier.
Today, energy prices in Europe remain high, which has hit the normal production activities of its countries and put their manufacturers in a dilemma. The Inflation Reduction Act is bound to cause more European enterprises to transfer their production to the U.S., exacerbating the difficulties facing the European economy.
The U.S. firmly adheres to the principle of “America First.” On the one hand, it draws the EU to fight against "foreign enemies," while on the other hand, it does not hesitate to sacrifice the interests of its allies to safeguard its own interests. The indispensable EU ally has become its "harmful friend."
If the two sides fail to reach a consensus on these contradictions, the EU may take retaliatory measures, likely triggering a new trade war.
