Car Wars (Part 1) - The US, China and Electric Vehicles

AIG Global Trade Series

Panellists:
Scott Kennedy, Senior Advisor and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, CSIS (Center for Strategic & International Studies)
Wendy Cutler, Vice President and Managing Director, Washington, D.C. Office, ASPI (Asia Society Policy Institute)

Moderator:
Rem Korteweg, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute

This podcast episode was recorded on 24 May 2024.

The 2024 edition of the AIG Global Trade Series explores the theme of ‘Back to the Future: A New Era of Managed Trade?’

Amid rising concern about the effect of China’s industrial overcapacity on global markets, the US has adopted tariff measures intended to address China's trade practices and industrial policy in several strategic sectors, notably electric vehicles (EVs). In retaliation for what Beijing sees as US protectionism, China is moving ahead with tariffs on US imports, including cars. Move and counter-move have propelled the issue of EVs to the centre of US-China trade relations.

What are the political, economic and technological dynamics of the competition between Washington and Beijing over EVs? Where does the EV issue feature in the US-China dialogue on climate action? And is the sparring between Washington and Beijing on EVs a harbinger of escalation in their trade relations more broadly?

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The Global Trade Series is a collaboration between AIG and the following international organisations with leading expertise on global trade:

the Aspen Institute Germany; CEBRI - the Brazilian Center for International Relations; Chatham House (UK); CITD - the Center on Inclusive Trade and Development at Georgetown University Law Center (US); the Clingendael Institute (The Netherlands); Elcano Royal Institute (Spain); ERIA – the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (Indonesia); ISPI - the Italian Institute for International Political Studies; the Jacques Delors Institute (France); RIETI - the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan); and the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity through Trade (Switzerland).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the speakers and do not reflect the views, policy or position of American International Group Inc, or its subsidiaries or affiliates (AIG). Any content provided by the speakers in this podcase series is their opinion, and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or group of individuals or anyone or anything. AIG makes no warranty or representations as to the accuracy, completeness, correctness or validity of any information provided during this podcast series, and AIG will not be liable for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions in the information provided during this podcast series or any damages, losses, liabilities, injuries resulting from or arising from the Podcast including your use of the Podcast.