Global South Embraces China’s Green Energy Surplus Despite U.S. Warnings

While U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns about China’s 'overcapacity' in clean energy sectors like solar panels and EVs, countries across the Global South are flipping the script – seeing it as a golden ticket to affordable climate solutions.

Brazilian researcher Marco Fernandes calls out the geopolitical chessboard at play: 'The West sees China as a threat to their dominance. But for us? Cheap solar tech and EVs mean faster green transitions without breaking the bank.'

Here’s the tea : China’s scale-driven price drops have made renewables 80% cheaper since 2010, per IRENA data. Fernandes argues this isn’t 'unfair competition' – it’s smart industrial policy, mirroring Western farm subsidies. 'Why is it okay when Brussels protects EU farmers but problematic when Beijing backs green tech?'

The Brazil-China partnership shines bright:

• $100B+ in bilateral trade
• Record $50B surplus for Brazil (soybeans EVs)
• Joint ventures brewing in South American EV factories

'We don’t need to pick sides,' Fernandes insists, highlighting Brazil’s strategy: leverage China’s tech while keeping sovereignty. It’s a blueprint other Global South nations are eyeing closely.

As Yellen’s visit sparks fresh U.S.-China tensions, one thing’s clear: the Global South is rewriting the clean energy playbook – and they’re playing to win.

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China's clean energy surplus: Global South shrugs off U.S. alarm bells

cgtn.com