{"id":65444,"date":"2023-09-26T00:59:59","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T04:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/markets\/the-us-lac-and-china\/"},"modified":"2023-09-26T01:00:02","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T05:00:02","slug":"the-us-lac-and-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444","title":{"rendered":"The US, LAC, And China"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to the G20 and The BRICS to (now the \u201cExpanded BRICS\u201d) highlight how nations place importance on developing alternative forms of energy\u2014 solar being a key example\u2014 and creating competitive ecosystems are redefining traditional and non-traditional industries and geopolitical alliances. This is the new global architecture in solar energy. Dynamics in the Western Hemisphere, a once bastion and a symbol of America\u2019s global influence, have changed in the past two decades. A lack of concerted attention from the U.S. government and private actors has prompted Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) governments to look east for development assistance and a more reliable trade partner. On September 13th, Chinese President Xi and Venezuelan President Maduro upgraded their relationship to an \u201cAll weather strategic partnership\u201d and signed agreements in economy, trade and tourism, science and technology, civil aviation, and aerospace. The lure of Chinese capital is too attractive for nations in the region to ignore. Data from the IMF, show for two decades, China has surpassed the United States as South America\u2019s largest trading partner.<\/p>\n

However, trade data from the World Bank suggests that The US is still Latin America\u2019s largest trade partner.<\/p>\n

<\/fbs-ad><\/p>\n

Who should the public believe? What is certain is China\u2019s intentional and sustained economic engagement in LAC evidenced by more than USD 137 billion in sovereign loans to Latin American countries since 2005, notes Margaret Myers, Director of The Asia and Latin America Program at The Inter-American Dialogue.<\/p>\n

LAC\u2019s exports to China rose from 1.3 percent in 2000 to 14.5 percent in 2020. China also set up three regional funds to back investments in the region: the China-LAC Industrial Cooperation Investment Fund with a size of US$30 billion; the China-LAC Cooperation Fund of US$10 billion; and the Special Loan Program for China-Latin America Infrastructure of US$20 billion. In response to increased Chinese engagement with LAC, the U.S. has increased<\/u> investment and attention to the region, and competition particularly in solar power is acutely intensifying.<\/p>\n

Solar Power in LAC<\/strong><\/p>\n

LAC\u2019s voracious appetite for investment in renewable energy is palpable. It averages 217 days of sunshine a year and Solargis\u2019s resource map shows that the region ranks high in PV electricity potential. Solar power currently only generates 3-4 percent of electricity across LAC. However, LAC has the most extensive solar power project lineup outside East Asia and North America. The region is constructing over four times the amount of solar capacity in Europe and seven times more than India. Global Energy Monitor, states that Latin America has the potential to increase its wind and solar power capacity by more than 460 percent by 2030. As climate change increases the frequency of devastating storms, it is imperative that LAC ensure continued power generation through domestic means. For example, after Hurricane Irma devastated the Bahamas, the government created solar power microgrids to provide residents renewable energy on Ragged Island.<\/p>\n

Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Peru represent the majority of current solar projects and account for over 88% of installed solar capacity and about 97% of planned capacity in construction. However, there is still time for the U.S. to get a piece of the action.<\/p>\n

The U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Solar power is the fastest-growing and most affordable source of electricity in America. In 2022, more than 263,000 Americans are working in solar at over 10,000 companies and the industry generated nearly $35 billion in private investment. Aiming to capitalize on this investment, American developmental aid organizations emphasize Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) focused investment. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2019, LAC launched the Renewable Energy
\n REGI
\n <\/fbs-ticker> for Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative (RELAC). The initiative aims to achieve 70 percent renewable energy participation in the region\u2019s energy mix by 2030. To bolster this strategy, America should collaborate with individual states to fund renewable energy initiatives. As CSIS<\/em>\u2019s Ryan C. Berg wrote, this includes the U.S. engaging the public sector, multilateral organizations, and the private sector. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation should also increase financing for projects in the LAC. The Biden administration should establish new endeavors like the U.S. Caribbean Partnership to Tackle Climate Change 2030 (PACC 2030) to allocate resources for addressing climate-linked concerns.<\/p>\n

A company at the forefront of solar panel production is First Solar
\n FSLR
\n <\/fbs-ticker>. They have received lucrative tax credits (partly from the Inflation Reduction Act). <\/strong>Amid ongoing U.S.-China competition, the U.S. should allocate more resources to augment the capacity of domestic companies like First Solar. Companies in the LAC seeking to partner with First Solar include individuals like Emanuel DaRosa, CEO of Sunterra Energy Solutions based in Kingston, Jamaica who previously oversaw Jamaica Public Service which is equivalent to Con Edison in the US. \u201cUS EXIM has indicated it will not fund foreign panels inclusive of Chinese and there fears that other US support organizations like USAID, IDB, and DFC may be pulled into the geopolitical divide and withdraw support for any products built in China\u201d says Emanuel<\/p>\n

China<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>China holds a considerable advantage over the U.S. in its solar production. It represents over 80 percent of the supply chain and has spent ten times as much on solar manufacturing compared to the U.S. and Europe. Data from Boston University\u2019s China Global Energy Finance database, show that China\u2019s developmental finance institutions like the China Development Bank and China Export-Import Bank, have provided $10 billion in funding for energy generation in LAC since 2000. Many of these projects are run by state-owned firms, such as PowerChina, which has over fifty ongoing projects in Latin America as of 2022. Chinese companies are also involved in two of the largest projects in the region. In Argentina, the Cauchari photovoltaic complex <\/u>is developed as a China BRI project. Phase one began in 2018 with an initial investment of $390 million. The project\u2019s new phase was agreed upon in 2022, during President Alberto Fernandez\u2019s trip to China. The other major project is a $1 billion, 1.1 Gigawatt solar project near A\u00e7u, Brazil, that Chinese firms are expanding. On Sept. 22, China Signal reported that three out of four bidders for Bogota, Colombia\u2019s second metro line are Chinese state owned enterprises. Chinese Deputy Minister Liu Hanyuan described China\u2019s willingness to assist the Caribbean with its transition to renewable energy, \u201cthere are absolutely no limitations for the transmission of this technology into the Caribbean region. But we need two things, more demand and the new systems being established, which will help bring lower energy costs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

As climate change intensifies, solar power offers a sustainable solution. With its abundant sunshine and potential for PV technology, LAC are poised for increased investment in renewable energy. The U.S. cannot afford to sit idly, while China determines the region\u2019s energy future. The Biden administration has taken initial steps to re-engage the region as highlighted by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory helping to train workers in Antigua and Barbuda to install solar panels, batteries, and hurricane-resistant turbines. Vice President Kamala Harris also announced $20 million to support the \u200b\u200bCaribbean Climate Investment Program. However, the US must marshal its collective resources more effectively to lead, solicit feedback and collaborate with LAC nations to set environmental and sustainability standards for the region. A report published earlier in the year by the U.N. Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights identified 14 cases of human rights or environmental hazards by Chinese projects in Latin America. Chinese initiatives also frequently show little consideration for the homes of indigenous communities in areas designated for development. The report stated, \u201cChinese investors and financiers do not comply with due diligence processes, and decide to carry out business activities in areas with a documented high potential for social conflict and environmental risks.\u201d Leverage America\u2019s common values in the Western Hemisphere, and action targeted social entrepreneurship engagement, technology, pricing, coupled with humility and cultural competence. These collective efforts sustained over time will reduce the region\u2019s dependency on foreign energy sources.<\/p>\n

The endeavor will be challenging. China\u2019s capability in producing solar panels and lack of historical grievances from the region give it an inherent advantage. The U.S. must resolve to be consistent and seek innovative ways to remain competitive in LAC\u2019s renewable energy transition. China is currently winning the race, but by no means is the race over. The US needs to up its game.<\/p>\n

Special thanks to Nathaniel Schochet for his exceptional thought leadership, research, and editorial contributions to this article.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Read the full article here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to the G20 and The BRICS to (now the \u201cExpanded BRICS\u201d) highlight how nations place importance on developing alternative forms of energy\u2014 solar being a key example\u2014 and creating competitive ecosystems are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[241],"tags":[83],"class_list":["post-65444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-markets","tag-featured"],"yoast_head":"\nThe US, LAC, And China | iFintechWorld<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The US, LAC, And China | iFintechWorld\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"iFintechWorld\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-26T04:59:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-26T05:00:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/1695704400_0x0.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"507\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"News Room\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"News Room\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"News Room\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6224724fd4116361255b179dc5c70b61\"},\"headline\":\"The US, LAC, And China\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-26T04:59:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-26T05:00:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444\"},\"wordCount\":1427,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Featured\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Markets\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444\",\"name\":\"The US, LAC, And China | iFintechWorld\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-26T04:59:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-26T05:00:02+00:00\",\"description\":\"Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The US, LAC, And China\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/\",\"name\":\"Repay Down\",\"description\":\"Latest Personal Finance News, Tips and Updates\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Repay Down\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rep-logo-dark.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rep-logo-dark.png\",\"width\":558,\"height\":90,\"caption\":\"Repay Down\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6224724fd4116361255b179dc5c70b61\",\"name\":\"News Room\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/avatar_user_1_1682606986-96x96.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/avatar_user_1_1682606986-96x96.png\",\"caption\":\"News Room\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The US, LAC, And China | iFintechWorld","description":"Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The US, LAC, And China | iFintechWorld","og_description":"Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to","og_url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444","og_site_name":"iFintechWorld","article_published_time":"2023-09-26T04:59:59+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-26T05:00:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":900,"height":507,"url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/1695704400_0x0.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"News Room","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"News Room","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444"},"author":{"name":"News Room","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6224724fd4116361255b179dc5c70b61"},"headline":"The US, LAC, And China","datePublished":"2023-09-26T04:59:59+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-26T05:00:02+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444"},"wordCount":1427,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#organization"},"keywords":["Featured"],"articleSection":["Markets"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444","url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444","name":"The US, LAC, And China | iFintechWorld","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-09-26T04:59:59+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-26T05:00:02+00:00","description":"Winning the renewable energy race is essential to who controls the narrative and sets global standards. From the annual UN General Assembly meetings to","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?p=65444#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The US, LAC, And China"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/","name":"Repay Down","description":"Latest Personal Finance News, Tips and Updates","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#organization","name":"Repay Down","url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rep-logo-dark.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rep-logo-dark.png","width":558,"height":90,"caption":"Repay Down"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6224724fd4116361255b179dc5c70b61","name":"News Room","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/avatar_user_1_1682606986-96x96.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/avatar_user_1_1682606986-96x96.png","caption":"News Room"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/ifintechworld.com"],"url":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/?author=1"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=65444"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65446,"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65444\/revisions\/65446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/65445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifintechworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}