Supply Chain Archives - The Wire China

Ed Conway on Living in the Material World

Andrew Peaple — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000

The economics journalist talks about his travels to see how the substances we need for modern life are extracted and produced, the trade-offs involved and the fragility of so many of the supply chains and systems on which we rely.

The post Ed Conway on Living in the Material World appeared first on The Wire China.

WuXi Waylaid

Eliot Chen — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000

When Congress resumes next month, the BioSecure Act will be one of its top priorities. The bill, which could dramatically reorder the global pharmaceutical supply chain, is the latest example of the U.S. trying to exorcize China from its supply chains, and it will have a profound effect on WuXi Apptec, the most important drugmaker American patients have never heard of.

The post WuXi Waylaid appeared first on The Wire China.

Who’s Who in the Rare Earth Industry

The Wire — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000

China has a virtual monopoly over midstream processing of rare earths.

The post Who’s Who in the Rare Earth Industry appeared first on The Wire China.

Black Prices for White Gold

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0000

China’s largest lithium producers have warned of losses this year despite expected strong demand for the key battery ingredient.

The post Black Prices for White Gold appeared first on The Wire China.

Gunpowder Gambit

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0000

China’s role in the gunpowder supply chain is spurring concerns in Washington and Brussels.

The post Gunpowder Gambit appeared first on The Wire China.

The Taiwan Debate Is Heading in a Dangerous Direction

Paul Triolo — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Discussions within U.S. policy making circles take too little account of the devastating impact any conflict could have on the global chip industry.

The post The Taiwan Debate Is Heading in a Dangerous Direction appeared first on The Wire China.

Why Small Packages Are A Big Deal

Eliot Chen — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Stemming the tide of low-cost imports coming into the U.S. from China is proving tricky.

The post Why Small Packages Are A Big Deal appeared first on The Wire China.

Chinese Battery Makers Get Solid Support

Rachel Cheung — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Braving the frigid cold of the Chinese winter last December, William Li, chief executive of Chinese automaker NIO, drove for 14 hours from Shanghai to the southern eastern city of Xiamen, allowing viewers to watch him via a livestream on the company’s app. His aim? To demonstrate that the latest version of the company’s ET7 […]

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The Solar Flood

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Chinese companies dominate the global solar industry, yet rising capacity has sent prices plummeting.

The post The Solar Flood appeared first on The Wire China.

The Rare Earth Rumble

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

A corporate drama in Australia has high stakes for the West’s quest to build a critical minerals supply chain independent of China.

The post The Rare Earth Rumble appeared first on The Wire China.

The Tariff Toll

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Tariffs have become a staple of the U.S.’s China policy, but a failure to enforce them properly is creating problems for American companies.

The post The Tariff Toll appeared first on The Wire China.

Old Chips, New Opportunities

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 26 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

As the U.S. powers ahead in advanced chipmaking, China is reminding the world that older technology still matters.

The post Old Chips, New Opportunities appeared first on The Wire China.

The Great EV Glut

Luke Patey — Sun, 19 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

The new U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made EVs are both unprecedented and largely performative since Chinese EVs haven't yet penetrated the U.S. market. The European Union, by contrast, is facing a more critical and nuanced challenge from the influx of Chinese-made EVS and is currently debating what to do about it. Can the E.U. save its auto industry and still keep its green transition going?

The post The Great EV Glut appeared first on The Wire China.

The High Costs of Tariffs without End

Victor Shih — Sun, 19 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

The Biden administration’s new measures against Chinese imports risks creating a doom-loop of declining American competitiveness.

The post The High Costs of Tariffs without End appeared first on The Wire China.

What Happened At America’s Own Military-Civil Fusion Fair

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 12 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

The hot topic at a major D.C. conference this week was how the government and companies can cooperate in areas like AI to counter China’s threat.

The post What Happened At America’s Own Military-Civil Fusion Fair appeared first on The Wire China.

Mining’s Malaise

Eliot Chen — Sun, 05 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Washington’s $370 billion Inflation Reduction Act was seen as a generational opportunity for miners in the U.S. as well as mineral rich trading partners. But almost two years later, the North American mining industry is in crisis and no closer to chipping away at China's dominance. What went wrong?

The post Mining’s Malaise appeared first on The Wire China.

Who’s Who in the EV Battery Supply Chain

Paul Sédille — Sun, 05 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

More than any other country, China finds itself at the epicenter of the lithium-ion battery revolution.

The post Who’s Who in the EV Battery Supply Chain appeared first on The Wire China.

The Fentanyl Fix

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 23:00:00 +0000

The U.S. and China agreed to cooperate on fentanyl, but progress is proving hard to come by.

The post The Fentanyl Fix appeared first on The Wire China.

Printer Problems

Eduardo Jaramillo — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE) wants to be 'China's ASML' and produce the engineering marvels that help 'print' semiconductor chips. But it seems to be woefully behind that mission, imperiling China’s effort to domesticate chipmaking at a critical time. With a vast network of suppliers and all of China rallying for it to succeed, can it finally catch up?

The post Printer Problems appeared first on The Wire China.

Who’s Who in the Semiconductor Supply Chain

Paul Sédille — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A detailed analysis of the companies involved in chip manufacturing globally shows a big role for both U.S. and Chinese firms.

The post Who’s Who in the Semiconductor Supply Chain appeared first on The Wire China.

Automakers at Sea

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As China becomes the world’s biggest auto exporter, BYD and its peers are moving into shipping.

The post Automakers at Sea appeared first on The Wire China.

How a Battery Metals Supply Glut is Deepening China’s Dominance

Eliot Chen — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Crashing metals prices are making it hard for Western miners to justify new investments in the minerals needed for clean energy.

The post How a Battery Metals Supply Glut is Deepening China’s Dominance appeared first on The Wire China.

Ernest Scheyder on the Tough Choices around Critical Minerals

Andrew Peaple — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The journalist discusses the trade-offs involved in sourcing the minerals needed to power the clean energy transition, and how the U.S. fell behind China in producing vital resources.

The post Ernest Scheyder on the Tough Choices around Critical Minerals appeared first on The Wire China.

Can Alibaba Deliver?

Eliot Chen — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Eclipsed overseas by younger e-commerce rivals, Alibaba is relying on a little-known part of its business for its comeback. Cainiao, which focuses on the nitty-gritty of getting packages to customers, is the world’s largest cross-border delivery firm, surpassing both DHL and FedEx by freight volume. Now it has filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong, and as Eliot Chen reports, it might just help Alibaba to take on Shein and Temu.

The post Can Alibaba Deliver? appeared first on The Wire China.

Washington’s Xinjiang Fix

Eliot Chen — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which is now two years old, is one of the most ambitious pieces of human rights legislation ever passed in the United States. But, by banning the import of goods made in Xinjiang, it is also a signifiant trade law — one that promises to remake supply chains and transform trade between the world’s two largest economies. As the Biden administration ramps up enforcement in the coming year, it will test the UFLPA's effectiveness — or lack thereof.

The post Washington’s Xinjiang Fix appeared first on The Wire China.

The Mineral Hunt

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A look at the American effort to catch up on critical raw material supply by searching closer to home.

The post The Mineral Hunt appeared first on The Wire China.

The Chinese Recycling Gem

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A look at one of the Chinese firms spearheading the growing industry around recycling batteries.

The post The Chinese Recycling Gem appeared first on The Wire China.

Tomorrowland

Luke Patey — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A long line of multinationals are now knocking on India's door. But if there's any chance of them successfully diversifying away from China's highly skilled workforce and well-oiled logistical machine, they'll need to learn from the industries that came before them.

The post Tomorrowland appeared first on The Wire China.

The Chips Education Challenge

Eliot Chen — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 23:00:00 +0000

One U.S. university's efforts to improve knowledge of semiconductors could end up helping the country's economic rivals.

The post The Chips Education Challenge appeared first on The Wire China.

China’s Graphite Grip

Eliot Chen — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Critical minerals have become a geopolitical flashpoint, but two battery material startups in the U.S. and China are looking for ways to work together.

The post China’s Graphite Grip appeared first on The Wire China.

A Chinese Electronics Empire

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000

A look at Chinese home appliance brand Midea Group and its growing global reach.

The post A Chinese Electronics Empire appeared first on The Wire China.

Zombie Supply Chains

Nithin Coca — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000

For years, environmental advocates in the West made real progress cutting off supply chains in Southeast Asia that violated ESG standards. But thanks to the Chinese market, many are back — and stronger than ever.

The post Zombie Supply Chains appeared first on The Wire China.

The New Trend for Chinese Companies — Dropping China

Eliot Chen — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Some of China's fastest-growing companies are doing their best to portray themselves as coming from somewhere else.

The post The New Trend for Chinese Companies — Dropping China appeared first on The Wire China.

The New Metal Battleground

Isaiah Schrader — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000

China has announced export controls on two little-known metals that are key to chipmaking and other advanced technologies.

The post The New Metal Battleground appeared first on The Wire China.

India’s Chance for Chips

Sean Williams — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000

India wants to capitalize on over concentrated supply chains and the Washington-Beijing chip war to burst onto the global semiconductor stage. Its great hope? Vedanta Resources, a mining firm.

The post India’s Chance for Chips appeared first on The Wire China.

Myron Brilliant on Business’s Role in Dealing with China

Bob Davis — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 23:00:00 +0000

The longtime U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive VP talks about the rights and wrongs of China's WTO entry and how companies should deal with the current tensions in the U.S.-China relationship.

The post Myron Brilliant on Business’s Role in Dealing with China appeared first on The Wire China.

The Biodiesel Defect

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Twenty years ago, biofuel was seen as something of a silver bullet — a way to "green" our engines and support our farmers all at once. But the industry has been plagued by unintended consequences ever since, and the latest controversy — involving an influx of Chinese imports to the EU — is exposing broader problems in the industry.

The post The Biodiesel Defect appeared first on The Wire China.

BYD’s Big Moment

Eliot Chen — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:00:00 +0000

BYD’s blink-and-you-miss-it expansion in the last three years has blindsided just about everyone. Today it is the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles, the second largest producer of EV batteries, and China’s best selling car brand, displacing Volkswagen, which had held that title for at least 15 years. How did BYD become such a dominant force in the EV industry? And, perhaps more importantly, can it stay that way?

The post BYD’s Big Moment appeared first on The Wire China.

Aluminum Foiled

Grady McGregor — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 23:00:00 +0000

In 2000, the U.S. was the world’s top producer of aluminum. Today, it’s the ninth-largest. The toppling, of course, is due to China, which came on the aluminum scene fast and furious, dumping its cheap excess capacity on global markets and causing chaos in its wake.

The post Aluminum Foiled appeared first on The Wire China.

Commerce at the Center

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 28 May 2023 23:00:00 +0000

On Thursday, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with Wang Wentao, the Chinese Commerce Minister, in Washington. It marked the first cabinet-level meeting in Washington between the U.S. and China during the Biden administration, and it was a signal of the Commerce Department’s increasingly central role in the current U.S.-China relationship. Usually, the Commerce Department is far from the center of anything, but as Katrina Northrop reports, the department is uniquely suited to address the China challenge.

The post Commerce at the Center appeared first on The Wire China.

The China-Europe Partnership is Breaking Down

Eyck Freymann — Sun, 28 May 2023 23:00:00 +0000

The souring of relations between European capitals and Beijing represents a strategic opportunity for the U.S.

The post The China-Europe Partnership is Breaking Down appeared first on The Wire China.

Express Delivery

Ella Apostoaie — Sun, 21 May 2023 23:00:00 +0000

As Chinese e-commerce giants are called into question over their supply chains, a look at the company that is helping deliver the goods.

The post Express Delivery appeared first on The Wire China.

Beijing’s Latest Crackdown Deepens Foreign Business’s Confusion

Eliot Chen — Sun, 14 May 2023 23:00:00 +0000

The moves against consultancies and due diligence firms will make it harder for multinationals to operate in China, even as local governments are desperate to entice them in.

The post Beijing’s Latest Crackdown Deepens Foreign Business’s Confusion appeared first on The Wire China.

The Japan Model

Luke Patey — Sun, 14 May 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Japan is two decades ahead of its American and European allies when it comes to 'de-risking' from China. Now, with the 'economic security pioneer' hosting the upcoming G7, many say the West can learn from Tokyo’s prioritization and institutionalization of the issue.

The post The Japan Model appeared first on The Wire China.

The Nickel Pickle

Eliot Chen — Sun, 07 May 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Xiang Guangda invested in Indonesia when no one else would. Now, his firm, stainless steel giant Tsingshan Group, is both a leader and something of a gate keeper for the country's nickel industry. But with nickel increasingly needed for EV batteries, the dominance of Tsingshan and other Chinese companies in Indonesia presents a problem for the West.

The post The Nickel Pickle appeared first on The Wire China.

Shaky Signal

Brent Crane — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Qualcomm got its big break by navigating the tense relationship between the U.S. and China, and it has felt the squeeze of geopolitics numerous times since — often coming out stronger than it was before. The telecom behemoth is now the rare U.S. company that is doubling down on China, forcing the question: Can it keep it up?

The post Shaky Signal appeared first on The Wire China.

Rare Earth Reshore

Luke Patey — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 23:00:00 +0000

The EU desperately wants to 'de-risk' its reliance on China, especially for rare earths — the critical minerals that are essential for today's technologies. But to accomplish that, the EU has to do a lot more than simply dig these minerals out of the ground. To turn its green aspirations into an industrial reality, the EU faces the meticulous task of building out all nodes of a long and complicated supply chain.

The post Rare Earth Reshore appeared first on The Wire China.

Playing Both Sides?

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Can the U.S. fund and build domestic supply chains for batteries without China?

The post Playing Both Sides? appeared first on The Wire China.

Temu’s Big Haul

Ella Apostoaie — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 23:00:00 +0000

A look at Pinduoduo’s U.S.-based sister company, Temu, and how it is changing the typical online shopping experience in America.

The post Temu’s Big Haul appeared first on The Wire China.

Shannon O’Neil on the Globalization Myth

Andrew Peaple — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 23:00:00 +0000

The author and academic talks about how trade has actually changed over the last 40 years; why China's rise is linked to Asia's regionalization; and why international supply chains are efficient and resilient.

The post Shannon O’Neil on the Globalization Myth appeared first on The Wire China.