3 ms·

The US is way behind in battery technology. This was a badly needed technology transfer into the US. And now it's broken, for at least six months.

jeffbee 1y ago
What happens in six months?
- Jtsummers 1y ago
  It's in the article, that's when they'll resume work on the plant. > According to LG Energy Solution, construction at the plant will remain on hold until the first half of 2026, reported WJCL, delaying by several months when U.S. workers can begin jobs at the facility. ICE took away the workers that were delivering and installing equipment, which introduced delays into the construction process.
  - Animats 1y ago
    That assumes that LG can find workers who want to risk going to the US. The government of South Korea is forming a "task force" with the US embassy in Seoul to try to get visa procedures fixed so this doesn't happen again. "Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the body will be led by director-level officials, emphasizing that its purpose is to facilitate practical consultations rather than political declarations." The view from the Korean side is worth reading. [1] This may reduce Korean investment in the US.[2] [1] https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20250916/korea-us-to-form-task-force-on-visa-issues-after-georgia-factory-raid https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20250916/korea-u... [2] https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/09/south-korea-visas-immigration-us-investment-hyundai-lg?lang=en https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/09/south-korea-v...
    - ModernMech 1y ago
      As if deficient visa procedures were the reason this happened.
ElijahLynn 1y ago
and possibly greatly reduced foreign investment for 3 years “Other attorneys and I are hearing from companies in Asia and Europe who say, ‘Maybe we should hold off on big investments in the U.S. for at least three years.’”
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- cogman10 1y ago
  Exactly. If I'm a foreign company thinking about setting up a factory in the US, I'd probably pass. With the tariffs it's already going to be hard to get the equipment you need into the US without spending a significant amount of money. But now you run the risk of the US arresting and deporting all your skilled workers setting up and managing that factory? No thank you. Absolutely braindead move.
pasttense01 1y ago
The battery plant was just to make batteries for EVs. The Trump administration has made clear it is anti-EV, so the Trump administration would not consider this a significant loss.
- Animats 1y ago
  This is already impacting Korean funded semiconductor plants under construction in the US.[1] [1] https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-09-16/business/industry/Exclusive-Samsung-SK-hynix-cut-ESTA-trips-to-US-after-mass-detentions-in-Georgia/2400161 https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-09-16/busines...

jeffbee 1y ago

What happens in six months?

Jtsummers 1y ago
It's in the article, that's when they'll resume work on the plant. > According to LG Energy Solution, construction at the plant will remain on hold until the first half of 2026, reported WJCL, delaying by several months when U.S. workers can begin jobs at the facility. ICE took away the workers that were delivering and installing equipment, which introduced delays into the construction process.
- Animats 1y ago
  That assumes that LG can find workers who want to risk going to the US. The government of South Korea is forming a "task force" with the US embassy in Seoul to try to get visa procedures fixed so this doesn't happen again. "Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the body will be led by director-level officials, emphasizing that its purpose is to facilitate practical consultations rather than political declarations." The view from the Korean side is worth reading. [1] This may reduce Korean investment in the US.[2] [1] https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20250916/korea-us-to-form-task-force-on-visa-issues-after-georgia-factory-raid https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20250916/korea-u... [2] https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/09/south-korea-visas-immigration-us-investment-hyundai-lg?lang=en https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/09/south-korea-v...
  - ModernMech 1y ago
    As if deficient visa procedures were the reason this happened.

ElijahLynn 1y ago

and possibly greatly reduced foreign investment for 3 years “Other attorneys and I are hearing from companies in Asia and Europe who say, ‘Maybe we should hold off on big investments in the U.S. for at least three years.’”

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
cogman10 1y ago
Exactly. If I'm a foreign company thinking about setting up a factory in the US, I'd probably pass. With the tariffs it's already going to be hard to get the equipment you need into the US without spending a significant amount of money. But now you run the risk of the US arresting and deporting all your skilled workers setting up and managing that factory? No thank you. Absolutely braindead move.

pasttense01 1y ago

The battery plant was just to make batteries for EVs. The Trump administration has made clear it is anti-EV, so the Trump administration would not consider this a significant loss.

Animats 1y ago
This is already impacting Korean funded semiconductor plants under construction in the US.[1] [1] https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-09-16/business/industry/Exclusive-Samsung-SK-hynix-cut-ESTA-trips-to-US-after-mass-detentions-in-Georgia/2400161 https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-09-16/busines...