Latest news with #AmericanManufacturers
Independent Singapore
03-06-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Tan Kin Lian slams Trump's Tariff policies in blistering Facebook post
SINGAPORE: Former presidential candidate and businessman Tan Kin Lian took to Facebook on May 31 to sharply criticise U.S. President Donald Trump, describing his tariff policies as economically damaging and politically reckless. In a post titled ' Wrecking Ball Trump,' Tan warned that the tariffs imposed during Trump's administration were backfiring on American businesses, making them less competitive both at home and abroad. Tariffs backfiring on U.S. businesses Tan argued that by taxing imported components, American manufacturers were forced to pay more for the parts they needed to assemble their final products. These higher input costs, he said, had a knock-on effect: companies either raised prices for U.S. consumers, contributing to inflation, or struggled to sell competitively on the export market. 'This made U.S. manufacturers uncompetitive when they export… [and] more expensive to U.S. buyers,' Tan wrote. He cited online videos, claiming that many U.S. factories had shut down and some major companies had relocated operations overseas to escape the rising costs caused by tariffs. See also Open letter to the new CEO of SMRT Job losses and delayed promises The knock-on effect, according to Tan, is widespread job loss across affected states, contradicting Trump's promise that tariffs would bring jobs back to America. 'The new jobs that were supposed to be created in the U.S., due to the tariffs, may take several years to realize,' he noted. Tan echoed critics who liken Trump's approach to a 'wrecking ball'—a blunt-force strategy that damages everything in its path without building anything lasting in its wake. Strong language, sharper criticism Tan did not mince words when addressing Trump's decision-making, stating bluntly that many people consider Trump to be 'insane and incredibly stupid'—an assessment he openly said he shared. Tourism slump paints bleak picture of U.S. soft power In a separate post, Tan commented on the sharp decline in international tourism to the U.S. since Trump returned to office in January 2025. He noted that international arrivals fell year-on-year in March, with even steeper declines from key regions like Western Europe and Central America. He attributed the drop to a mix of political and policy-driven deterrents—among them, aggressive immigration enforcement, border detentions, and controversial rhetoric, including Trump's threat to annex Canada. Countries such as Germany and Canada experienced booking cancellations of over 30%. Cities like New York and Los Angeles have felt the brunt of this shift, with ticket sales to tourist attractions and hotel occupancy rates falling significantly. Canadian flight bookings to the U.S. have reportedly plunged by over 70%. Tan remarked that these developments signal a larger erosion of the U.S.'s global appeal, not just economically but diplomatically. A pattern of self-inflicted harm From shrinking global market share to waning tourism dollars, Tan Kin Lian's posts paint a picture of an America under Trump that is isolating itself—economically, diplomatically, and culturally. 'The U.S. position risks being perceived as unreasonable because it simultaneously escalates tech restrictions while demanding concessions on unrelated issues,' he wrote. Tan concluded that unless the U.S. adopts a more balanced and reciprocal approach, particularly in its dealings with China and the global economy, it risks long-term strategic losses that no short-term posturing can undo.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Donald Trump's tariffs on Europe will backfire for American manufacturing
Bharat Ramamurti, former deputy director of the National Economic Council, talks with Jen Psaki about the number of Americans who will be hurt by the new Republican budget bill and why tariffs on European goods will make the economics for American manufacturers worse.
Fast Company
20-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
The path to battery leadership for the U.S. starts with tech
China produces 75% of the world's batteries. South Korea and Japan control much of the remaining supply chain. With tariffs looming over the industry, the U.S. is in a unique position, having both urgency and opportunity to strengthen domestic battery production for myriad uses. The reality is that American battery manufacturers lag their Asian counterparts. Companies here are attempting to catch up by rushing to follow Asia's manufacturing formula, but that strategy won't hold up in the long term. The only way to surpass these larger Asian competitors is to move on from outdated manufacturing methods and materials and focus on what defines American leadership: innovation. Playing catch-up won't cut it It's clear China and other Asian countries today have the advantage when it comes to battery manufacturing. Their factories are larger, their supply chains are better developed, and their experience and know-how mean batteries can be produced cheaper and quicker. It takes far less time to start up a battery factory there than in the U.S. The U.S. is in the midst of building up factories. Compared to Asia, however, the country still struggles with slower factory construction, longer time to start up, and more expensive batteries with lower yields, often producing lower-performing products. The U.S. won't be able to reach the same production levels and will continue to fall behind if we just keep playing catch-up. The innovation game Sticking to old-school battery manufacturing methods won't win the battery race. Instead, the U.S. can reclaim a leadership position only by playing an entirely different game and proving the solutions of existing product chokepoints: cost, safety, and performance. Battery architectures have remained fundamentally unchanged over the past 30 years. While the industry has made remarkable progress in energy density and cycle life, the same decades-old battery design principles still dictate what a battery is and can do. Process improvements and add-ons alone can't address these design limitations—think updating an app without ever upgrading the operating system. By redefining how a battery is made from the beginning, the U.S. can leapfrog competition and create a new foundation others can build on. 3 innovation factors Easier said than done, of course. To see real improvements, we must focus on three innovation factors: cost, performance, and safety. Today's solutions often compromise one to improve another, but we can't afford to make that sacrifice. If we can advance all three in parallel, there's no question we can pull ahead in the battery race. Closing this gap isn't just critical for U.S. competitiveness. By leading in battery innovation, the U.S. can set the pace for the global industry, creating technologies and frameworks that will drive progress for partners around the world. While battery costs have dropped dramatically over the past few years, the price of production—and adoption—still holds back widespread electrification. But swapping in cheaper materials or production shortcuts can impact safety and performance. Instead, innovation must be the driver of cost reduction through 'simplifications.' For U.S. battery makers, this could look like novel manufacturing methods, better material utilization in cell design, or waste reduction through improved closed-loop recycling processes. 2. Boost performance Today's consumers and commercial workloads demand more energy and power than ever. Drivers want longer EV range and faster charging, without the drop in performance during cold weather. Meanwhile, manufacturers face mounting pressure to find sustainable solutions that reduce dependency on certain materials and improve recyclability to combat volatile supply chains. Tech innovation can meet these demands. For example, emerging electrolyte chemistries can enable faster charge cycles and lower temperature operations (up to -30° Celsius) without degrading battery life, and next-gen cell designs can pack more energy into smaller, lighter formats. 3. Prioritize safety Today, the battery industry is treating safety as a top priority—and for good reason. As EV adoption grows, so does the risk of battery fires and thermal runaway. Recalls are costly, and public trust is fragile. In energy storage systems, fire concerns from local residents are delaying siting and deployment. Battery fire incidents onboard airplanes and fatal e-bike fires are yet more headaches for an already beleaguered industry. We need battery innovations that don't just contain fires but prevent them from happening in the first place. Current solutions, like cell-to-cell thermal barriers or battery management systems that monitor a battery's health, often fail to address the root cause. Instead, our innovation focus should be on smarter battery technologies at the electrode level that block dangerous dendrite growth, prevent short circuits, and enable safe shutdowns of individual cells. Stop imitating, start disrupting The future of batteries won't be built in yesterday's factories. If the U.S. wants to pioneer a reimagined industry, we can't settle for chasing Asia's playbook. We need to simplify where possible, innovate where it counts, and rethink the battery from the ground up. That's how we turn a game of catch-up into a strategy of disruption. While this challenge might feel steep, the good news is we're not starting from zero. Tech leaders across the U.S. are already developing breakthroughs in chemistry, materials, and manufacturing that are redefining batteries. Indeed, we have worked on providing solutions for the last 14 years, and we are ready. With the right support and speed, these advancements can shift the industry and propel the global energy future forward.
CNA
19-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Commentary: Southeast Asia solar panel manufacturers are over-reliant on American demand
SINGAPORE: Washington is planning to introduce steep tariffs on solar cells from Southeast Asian manufacturers, following a year-long investigation by the US Department of Commerce on 'unfair trade practices'. The tariffs, announced on Apr 22, target companies in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, and run as high as 3,400 per cent. The investigation found that companies in each country benefited from subsidies from the Chinese government, making their products cheaper and American products uncompetitive. The US' International Trade Commission will finalise the tariffs in June. Though proponents may celebrate the tariffs as victory for American solar manufacturers, this development adds more tension to global trade. Importers of solar cells are familiar with tariffs, as multiple US administrations have applied them to protect the domestic industry since 2011. Last month's announcement was the highest yet. Given this new level, many are concerned about the increase in expenses for solar installations in the US. For Southeast Asia manufacturers, questions linger on whether they can survive a downturn in US demand. GROWTH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA SOLAR MANUFACTURING Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam collectively play a key role in the supply chain of solar modules, accounting for 20 per cent of global exports in 2023. These countries supply 80 per cent of the US's solar equipment imports. The solar industry in Southeast Asia witnessed significant growth after 2012. Chinese companies shifted their production to the region, in response to US tariffs imposed to curb underpriced Chinese-made solar panels. China dominates all stages of the global solar supply chain, and manufacturers in Southeast Asia and other nations rely on Chinese upstream inputs such as polysilicon, the raw material of solar cells. Polysilicon production is hard to shift elsewhere because it requires heavy capital upfront, constant access to raw materials and significant energy. With massive government support, China has the competitive advantage. NEED TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON FOREIGN DEMAND Southeast Asia has seen a slowdown of solar panel production since mid-2024, after a US tariff reprieve expired. Chinese-linked companies operating in Southeast Asia found that their profit margin, which could reach as high as 40 per cent, was eroded. Continued losses from oversupply and fierce price competition with China's top solar firms might have contributed to the situation. Trump's tariff announcements will put more pressure on manufacturers in Southeast Asia. This situation underscores the vulnerability of the regional solar industry's dependence on US exports. Foreign investment can bring positive spillover effects to host countries; however, there is a risk when it is unrelated to domestic demand. For example, Malaysia has a solar panel manufacturing capacity of 23.6 gigawatts, but its installed capacity is only 4.2 gigawatts, leaving it vulnerable to an abrupt change in export demand. Other solar manufacturing countries in Southeast Asia have similar imbalances between export and domestic demands. At present, solar installation in the region lacks ambition owing to multiple factors, including continued dependence on fossil fuels, regulatory hurdles and grid connectivity issues. The increase in Chinese solar manufacturing investment in Laos and Indonesia, nations unaffected by import duties, since 2022 signals the expansion of production bases. However, the move is arguably for short-term gains, as the US is likely to extend its trade measures to close any loophole. Southeast Asia may attempt to diversify export markets; however, over-dependence on foreign demand should be managed carefully. Considering global trade restrictions, domestic markets in Southeast Asia may serve as hedges against external risks. Indeed, this is a golden opportunity for Southeast Asian economies to ramp up their own solar power capacity. This will help reduce their vulnerabilities to price volatility associated with fossil fuel markets, meet decarbonisation targets and prepare for the growing demand for green electricity within Southeast Asia. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE US SOLAR INDUSTRY Will Trump's tariffs on Southeast Asian manufacturers boost the American solar industry? A US study in 2024 found that solar tariffs led to some gains for US manufacturers, but higher prices for consumers and losses in environmental benefits. Industrial policy such as financial incentives and manufacturing tax credits is viewed as the more efficient approach for supporting the solar industry, as opposed to reliance on trade policy. Nevertheless, more evidence is necessary to determine the effect of high import tariffs on the solar industry. US solar production and supply chain growth are also contingent upon Trump's climate policies, including his decisions to undermine the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The policy, signed by the Biden administration in 2022, supports clean energy projects through incentives and tax credits, enabling a four-fold increase in solar manufacturing capacity in two years. Reversing the IRA is a poor decision, as it could dampen long-term industrial strategies, hinder job growth and cause the US to fall far behind its peers in meeting climate goals. Despite sector consolidation and price adjustments in the short to medium term, China is expected to maintain its market position and cost competitiveness. It will take years for American solar factories to catch up. In the short and medium term, solar panel price hikes will affect US consumers, possibly slowing solar panel installations as developers navigate new constraints. Current developments also highlight the dynamic nature of the global solar industry. Achieving clean energy targets means that governments will need to adapt to changing trade policies and market conditions.
