As Europe races to rebuild its industrial base, China is focusing more on influencing international standards and governance frameworks. It is who governs the value chains through which the next energy and technological transition will unfold. Through a new Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization, China is convening technical committees to set standards for photovoltaics, hydrogen, energy storage, high-voltage transmission, grid intelligence and carbon accounting. Its single market was built as much on common rules as on lower tariffs, and European standards routinely became global ones. Setting global standards is no simpler.