A row over steel exposes the contradictions in net zero

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, share concerns about American tariffs and state aid policies. Photo by Andreas Gora – Pool/Getty Images The US Inflation Reduction Act has caused a lot of consternation in Europe. Governments from Paris to Berlin have fretted over the astronomical subsidies and tax breaks offered by Joe Biden's government for manufacturers "reshoring" their supply chains for batteries, electric vehicles, and a whole manner of sectors deemed critical for national security, "resilience", and the green transition. In response, the EU has offered a "Green Deal", which some…