• Industry "The governments of China and the US support the car more"

California has written a new chapter today in its confrontation with the president of the United States. The Golden State, leading a coalition of 14 states, has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and his administration following Washington's decision to rescind the state's power to set its own limits on emissions of pollutant gases from its vehicles.

Behind the plans of Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that he now controls, is to please the titans of the car industry in the United States and, incidentally, end the legacy of his predecessor, a Barack Obama who set ambitious limits on the emission of greenhouse gases.

California, however, has made war on its part so far and has remained steadfast in its environmental objectives, benefiting from the federal permit that exempts it from being governed by the limits set by Washington. It is a battle that must now be settled in court.

Anti-ecological measures

The lawsuit seeks to defend California and 13 other states from Trump's anti-ecological policies and that they may continue to be, in the case of California, a reference in the fight against climate change. "Two courts have already confirmed California's emission standards, rejecting the Trump Administration's argument," California attorney general Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "However, the Administration insists on attacking the authority of California and other states to combat air pollution and protect public health. Mr. President. See you in court."

Elaine Chao, on the other hand, Secretary of Transportation of the United States, said Thursday that the elimination of the privilege to California has the objective of lowering the production costs of cars to manufacture safer and cleaner vehicles, without explaining how it hopes to achieve it or clarify the apparent contradiction. "We will not let the political agendas of a single state be imposed on the other 49," he concluded.

California has been a pioneer in setting limits on vehicle pollution since 1996 and intends to meet its new 'green' goals. These go through maintaining strict rules regarding pollution for new cars and the requirement for brands to sell more electric models. The goal is for there to be one million of those circulating on their roads by 2025.

Meanwhile, in Silicon Valley, the race is still open to prevail in the market for driverless vehicles, mostly electric, the antithesis of the world that Trump ambitions. "California is not going to wait for Washington's permission to protect the health and safety of children and families," Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement a few days ago after the Republican president announced. "California, the global markets and Mother Naturelaza will prevail."

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