Bloomberg Intelligence podcast features Anurag Rana on Amazon's AI growth, Craig Trudell on Tesla in China, Michael Halen on McDonald's strategy against competitors, and Herman Chan on New York Community Bank's challenges. Max Chafkin discusses Intel's $28B investment in Ohio, and Pol Lezcano talks about potential US tariffs on solar imports.
Proposed tariffs on solar imports aim to protect domestic industry but may hinder decarbonization efforts.
Intel's $28 billion investment in Ohio aims to bolster U.S. chip production and competitiveness against cheaper imports.
Deep dives
U.S. Solar Manufacturers Seek Tariffs on Imported Equipment
U.S. solar manufacturers are requesting tariffs on $12.5 billion of imported equipment from Southeast Asia to counter unfair practices by overseas rivals. The tariffs targets solar panels' cells, which are crucial technological components of the panels. Companies like First Solar use different technology, but face challenges due to higher production costs compared to Asian countries. The tariffs could make power projects more expensive, potentially hindering the decarbonization efforts.
Intel's $28 Billion Investment in Ohio 1 Mega Fab
Intel is committing $28 billion to build a multi-factory complex in Ohio, known as Ohio 1, focusing on state-of-the-art chips manufacturing. The mega fab will house multiple chip factories, requiring significant construction and workforce, potentially employing thousands. The goal is to compete globally for chip contracts and address the U.S.'s need for domestic chip production, aligning with the government's industrial strategy.
Significant Investment in U.S. Chip Manufacturing Facilities
Besides Intel's investment in Ohio, major semiconductor companies like Taiwan Semiconductor and Samsung Electronics are also pouring billions into plants in Arizona and Texas. The focus is on onshoring chip production to counteract cheaper imports, leading to potential trade probes and tariffs. The investments aim to strengthen the U.S.'s chip manufacturing capabilities to support growth and competitiveness.
Challenges in U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturing
U.S. solar manufacturers face challenges in competing with cheaper imports from Southeast Asia due to higher production costs, labor costs, and lower scale efficiencies. The push for tariffs on imported equipment seeks to protect domestic industry, but risks making solar projects more expensive. Unlike dominant players like First Solar, U.S. firms struggle to match the cost efficiency of Asian manufacturers, affecting the overall decarbonization efforts.
On this week’s podcast: Anurag Rana, Bloomberg Intelligence Technology Analyst, recaps Amazon earnings. Craig Trudell, Bloomberg Global Autos Editor, discusses Elon Musk’s visit to China. Michael Halen, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Restaurant and Foodservice Analyst, talks about McDonald’s earnings. Herman Chan, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Analyst for US Regional Banks, breaks down earnings from New York Community Bank. Max Chafkin, Bloomberg Businessweek Senior Reporter, discusses his Bloomberg Big Take story: “Intel is Betting $28 Billion on Making Ohio a Global Chips Capital.” Pol Lezcano, BloombergBNEF Senior Associate, discusses potential US tariffs on solar imports.
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