Coalition talks should emphasise German industry’s competitiveness – CDU negotiator

Possible negotiations to extend Germany’s grand coalition government should put a special focus on international competitiveness, as the US under President Donald Trump is increasingly becoming a rival, writes the Christian Democratic Party’s (CDU) energy politician Thomas Bareiß in a guest commentary in the Handelsblatt. “The Energiewende must not become an industry location disadvantage,” writes Bareiß. The ’shale gas revolution‘ in the US will likely guarantee low electricity prices in the US for decades, and Germany should “put more emphasis on affordability again” and continue with measures to balance out high Renewable Energy Act (EEG) costs, he writes. Germany should clearly advocate for free global trade.

Find the guest commentary (behind paywall) in German here.

For background, read the CLEW dossier Energiewende effects on power prices, costs and industry, and follow the latest developments on building a new German government.