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Yes. Solar panels were a good example. The fact that China absolutely dumped solar panels on the US completely crushed the domestic manufacturers. Now the US
by bsder 2y ago
Yes.
Solar panels were a good example. The fact that China absolutely dumped solar panels on the US completely crushed the domestic manufacturers.
Now the US solar cell supply is almost completely at the mercy of a geopolitical adversary. And US domestic manufacturers don't want to be bothered as they have no idea when China will dump panels on the market, and they'll get crushed again.
Because the US government failed to act, we lost both the manufacturing capability and the engineering research behind solar cells.
The world utopia has failed, and the world has become adversarial again. We need to add some support to local, domestic manufacturers.
- Sakos 2y agoWhat's the better solution though? Tariffs, which end up just passing on the cost to consumers and do nothing about the competitiveness of the US's own industry, or subsidies, which can either incentivize waste or it can make US industry more competitive, or a combination of the two?
- shiroiushi 2y agoWe could just go back to the Cold War days and cut off trade and communications altogether.
- Sakos 2y ago> We could just go back to the Cold War days and cut off trade and communications altogether. Sorry, this is an absurd, bad faith argument and doesn't add to the conversation in any way. If you want to rejoin the conversation and discuss real options like a mature adult, go ahead. Otherwise, stop wasting everybody's time.
- jmpman 2y agoThe Russian invasion of Ukraine suggests that Russia may be willing to go down that path. If China invades Taiwan, I can absolutely see a scenario where this happens. China, being export driven, would likely have a harder time than it expects. Russia’s petroleum exports are enough to disrupt global supplies, and the reason they’re still allowed to trade.
- shiroiushi 2y agoYou're a sad little person, aren't you?
- ex7820le_j 2y ago[dead]
- forgotoldacc 2y agoI think it's less accurate to say that China dumped solar panels on the US, and more accurate to say a large portion of the US actively worked to block any sort of development and deployment of solar within US borders. A lot of people really wanted coal to be the world's energy for the next 500 years. You can blame it all on lobbying, but voters themselves made fossil fuel dependence part of their identity. China caught up where the US should've had the lead, then flew past the US. Then the US was left with demand for a product and nobody but China could fill it. It's like blaming wheelchair companies for filling a demand when people cut off their own legs. And we're seeing the same with Japan and EVs. Japanese cars had probably the best reputation in the world. They could've switched over to 50% EV manufacturing, and even if they weren't cutting edge products, they'd be top sellers just because the country and its companies have a reputation that's that good. Instead the companies have been plugging their ears and covering their eyes and trying to pretend gas cars will be here forever until everyone decides burning coal/gas to produce hydrogen (???) will be the fuel of the future. Calling it a gamble that hasn't paid off is understating what a totally braindead move it has been. In both the US and Japan's case, it's a case of people wanting to believe the thing that existed when they grew up can never change, should never be allowed to change, and that everyone else will agree with them. But the market moved on without them.