The Motivation Analysis of EU Battery Regulation and China’s Response Strategies

The current global economic landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with clean energy and a low-carbon economy emerging as dominant trends. The advent of new energy vehicles has become a focal point of this transformative period, with countries engaged in a competitive pursuit to develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies in this field. This endeavor is aimed at fostering new global industry competitiveness, technological advancement, and market depth adjustments. The increase in the penetration rate of new energy vehicles has given rise to a strong demand for power batteries in various countries. In response, major countries, regions, and enterprises have launched intense competition around power batteries and their industrial chain, introducing a series of policies and initiatives to enhance industrial competitiveness and establish a dominant position in the market. In 2023, the EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation (henceforth referred to as the EU Batteries Law) was enacted, establishing regulations governing the use of batteries and waste batteries. The EU Battery Law, which came into force, sets out strict access requirements for batteries, including their carbon footprint. China’s automotive and power battery industries are at the vanguard of global development. New energy vehicles and lithium battery products have emerged as a key growth area for foreign trade exports. The EU Battery Law, as a representative example of international trade barriers, is poised to exert a profound impact on China’s power battery exports, potentially undermining the international competitiveness of power batteries and the automotive industry.