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☆ Americans are falling behind on their payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Americans are already struggling to keep up with their credit card payments. Strong consumer spending has buoyed the US economy through the Fed’s aggressive hiking cycle that has brought interest rates to a 23-year high. Economists say that Fed officials look closely at Americans’ ability to make their payments. Nunes, himself a former Republican congressman from California, pointed to how Trump Media has been among the most expensive stocks to borrow. “This is particularly troubling given that ‘naked’ short selling often entails sophisticated market participants profiting at the expense of retail investors,” the Trump Media CEO wrote.

Persons: New York CNN —, Austan Goolsbee, ’ ”, ”, Ramon Laguarta, Matt Egan, Devin Nunes, ” Nunes, Nunes, Read, Hanna Ziady, Colm Kelleher, “ Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Chicago Federal, Society for, New York Fed, ISI, PepsiCo, Commerce Department, Atlanta Fed, Social, Trump Media, Trump Media & Technology Group, Truth Social, Financial Services, Republican, Traders, UBS, Credit Suisse Locations: New York, California, Switzerland, Swiss

☆ The US is preparing to hit back at China's glut of cheap solar panels by targeting its allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The world is awash in solar panels after Chinese-owned firms flooded the market with cheap exports. Companies including Qcells, First Solar, and Swift Solar on Wednesday asked the Biden administration to slap tariffs on solar cells from four countries in Southeast Asia. The US solar companies allege that Chinese-owned firms operating in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are illegally undercutting the market. The petition by US solar companies — known as an anti-dumping and countervailing duty case — could lead to that. The probe will help determine whether solar panels were sold in the US at prices below the cost of production.

Persons: Biden, we've, Tim Brightbill, Wiley Rein, Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, Yellen, Premier Li Qiang Organizations: Service, Companies, Wednesday, Business, Wiley, China, Industry, Commerce Department, US Commerce Department, International Trade Commission, Premier, New York Times Locations: Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Germany, America, Massachusetts, China

☆ Solar manufacturers petition U.S. to impose tariffs on imports from four Southeast Asian nations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A coalition of U.S. solar manufacturers petitioned the federal government on Wednesday to impose tariffs on imports from four Southeast Asian nations, alleging that the countries are flooding the U.S. market with cheap products that threaten the domestic industry. The other six parties to the petition are Convalt Energy, Meyer Burger, Mission Solar, Qcells, REC Silicon and Swift Solar. They are requesting that the Commerce Department impose tariffs on solar cell imports from the four countries as a remedy. "This case is bad news for clean energy jobs and American solar manufacturing," Array CEO Kevin Hostetler said in a statement Wednesday. The ITC and Commerce Department investigations will take about 12 months to conclude, Brightbill said.

Persons: Meyer Burger, Tim Brightbill, Joe Biden, Brightbill, Kevin Hostetler, Janet Yellen, Biden Organizations: U.S, Convalt Energy, International Trade Commission, Commerce, ITC, Initiative, Commerce Department, Solar Energy Industries Association, American Clean Power Association, Advanced Energy, American Council, Renewable Energy, Technologies, International Energy Agency, IEA, CNBC Locations: Zhangye city, Gansu province, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, U.S, The U.S, Beijing's

☆ Banning TikTok would hit China’s tech ambitions and deepen the global digital divide
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Not only would that deal another huge blow to China’s tech ambitions, it would further deepen the divide between two digital worlds centered around the rival economic superpowers. Congress on Tuesday approved legislation that could compel ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a national ban. That leaves few options for ByteDance to secure the future of TikTok in the US, its biggest market with 170 million users. “This includes everything from who owns and operates data centers, to space-based internet satellites, to undersea cables and, of course semiconductors.”In that sense, the TikTok ban has its silver lining for Beijing. Growing challenges for Chinese appsThe TikTok legislation was included in a wide-ranging foreign aid package meant to support Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, ByteDance, Joe Biden, TikTok, “, ”, Alex Capri, Richard Windsor, Capri, Biden, Paul Triolo, ” Triolo, Wang Wenbin, CNN’s Marc Stewart, Triolo doesn’t, — CNN’s Wayne Chang, Marc Stewart Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Foundation, National University of Singapore’s Business, YouTube, Google, Radio Free Mobile, TikTok, Technology, Albright, Commerce Department, Commerce, China’s, Foreign Ministry, Facebook, Apple Locations: China, Hong Kong, America, Beijing, Capri, “, Asia, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Silicon Valley, American, Bytedance, “ Beijing

☆ GDP report Thursday expected to show economy still growing at a solid pace
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Gross domestic product, the sum of all goods and services produced across the sprawling U.S. economy, is expected to post a 2.4% annualized growth rate for the first quarter, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast. If that estimate is accurate, it would mark a step down from the 3.4% growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2023 and just a touch less than last year's 2.5% full-year growth rate. "The U.S. economy is still very resilient, supported by a solid labor market that continues to support robust income growth and in turn, consumer spending activity," EY-Parthenon chief economist Gregory Daco said. "We are seeing a little bit of cooling in terms of the consumer spending momentum. But there isn't any form of retrenchment that would be alarming in terms of future income trends and in terms of future consumer spending trends."

Persons: Dow, Gregory Daco, Daco, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Spencer Hill Organizations: Wall, Gross, Atlanta Federal, Commerce, Commerce Department Locations: U.S, Atlanta

☆ Oracle met with Senate aides about TikTok data storage after House ban passed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The House legislation would require TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance to divest the social media app, or face an eventual ban in the United States. Glueck said Oracle did not lobby for or against the TikTok bill, and only disclosed the meetings on mandatory filings in order to be transparent. "In a TikTok ban or shut-down scenario, Oracle would lose what is likely its largest OCI [Oracle Cloud Infrastructure] customer. Though the initial House bill briefly stalled in the Senate, a similar piece of legislation passed the House on Saturday and already has key support in the Senate. The services included providing congressional offices "technical assistance" in regards to the TikTok legislation, according to the disclosures.

Persons: Ken Glueck, Oracle, Glueck, Sen, Maria Cantwell, Mark Warner, Both Cantwell, Warner, Joe Biden, TikTok Organizations: Oracle, CNBC, Fierce Government Relations, Polaris Government Relations, Senate, Intelligence Committee, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, UBS, TikTok, Intelligence, Records, Polaris, Internal Revenue Service Locations: Washington, United States, China

☆ China is still years behind the U.S. despite Huawei's breakthrough chips, Raimondo tells '60 Minutes'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Sunday downplayed Huawei Technologies' latest microchip breakthrough, arguing the U.S. remains far ahead of China in the critical technology. The comments, made on CBS News' "60 Minutes," are in line with the Commerce secretary's stance that the Biden administration's restrictions on chip sales to China are working, despite an advanced made-in-China chip surfacing in a Huawei phone last year. The phone launched while Raimondo was on a visit to China. "I have their attention, clearly," she said, adding the U.S. would continue to pursue actions to protect U.S. national security and businesses. According to a senior Commerce Department official, Huawei's chipmaking partner SMIC "potentially" violated U.S. law by providing an advanced chip to the Chinese phone maker.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Joe Biden, We've, Raimondo, Huawei's, SMIC Organizations: Semiconductors, America, White, Huawei Technologies, CBS, Commerce, Biden, Huawei, U.S ., Commerce Department Locations: WASHINGTON, DC, Washington , DC, U.S, China, United States, U.S . U.S

☆ A 'deeply misguided' political belief is weakening the economy, says Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Eric Rosenbaum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"Child care is core to enabling women to work," she said. She explained that if she stayed in her career, her entire post-tax pay would have gone to child care, and all of the child care providers in her area were waitlisted. I didn't really go through this, so how many people are really thinking child care is an issue? "If you want a strong economy, women have to participate and in order for that to happen, we need strong child care," she said. Raimondo noted that half of Americans live in a "child care desert," with not enough services available at a cost that is affordable.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Joe Biden, Raimondo, —, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Jessica Chang, Chang, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, We've, it's Organizations: Semiconductors, America, White, Capitol, U.S, Samsung, CNBC's, Changemakers, U.S . Army, CNBC Changemakers, Boston Consulting Group, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Commerce Department Locations: WASHINGTON, DC, Washington ,, Rhode, U.S, Texas, Korean, New York City, Korea

☆ Women, part of the wave of baby boomers reaching 'peak 65,' are more likely to struggle in retirement, research finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The largest cohort of baby boomers is poised to reach age 65 between now and 2030. A majority of those baby boomers are not financially prepared for retirement, according to the research. Women are not the only peak boomers who are at a greater economic disadvantage, the research found. Individuals in those categories are more likely to have multiple types of retirement accounts and larger balances, according to the research. The median retirement savings for peak boomers is $225,000.

Persons: —, Robert Shapiro Organizations: Alliance for Lifetime, D.C, Commerce Department, Social Security Locations: Washington

☆ Geopolitical strife is roiling Wall Street. Here’s what investors are watching
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Those what-ifs could further roil gas and oil prices. But if there’s further conflict, he said, “you’d see a much higher premium for oil prices. If there’s a de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran, they said, oil prices should come down over the next few weeks. But if there’s an escalation in conflict, they expect that oil prices could jump to more than $100 per barrel, they wrote in a note Monday. Retail sales rose 0.7% in March from the prior month, a slower pace than February’s upwardly revised 0.9% gain, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

Persons: New York CNN —, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, ” Dimon, Jerome Powell, We’ll, Christine Lagarde, Andrew Bailey, Dave Sekera, Israel doesn’t, ”, “, Moody’s, there’s, Chris Isidore, Pete Muntean, Sam Salehpour, Read, Bryan Mena, Claire Tassin Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Dow, JPMorgan, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Bank, Bank of Canada, Seven, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Morningstar, Nvidia, AMD, Wall Street Journal, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines, Commerce Department, Morning, Amazon Locations: New York, Russia, Ukraine, China, United States, Washington ,, Iran, Israel, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Microsoft invests $1.5 billion in AI firm G42 which faces U.S. scrutiny for China ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

G42 will run its AI applications and services on the Microsoft Azure cloud service, as well as deploy Microsoft's cloud offerings. The U.S. and UAE governments appeared to be heavily involved in the deal. "Both companies will move forward with a commitment to comply with U.S. and international trade, security, responsible AI, and business integrity laws and regulations," Microsoft said. Gallagher alleges that G42 maintains relationship with blacklisted Chinese firms, such as Huawei, and that it works with China's military and intelligence services. G42 itself has reportedly invested in Chinese firms, including TikTok owner ByteDance.

Persons: Brad Smith, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahya, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, ByteDance Organizations: Microsoft, United Arab, U.S, UAE, U.S ., Chinese Communist Party, Commerce Department, Huawei Locations: Bellevue , Washington, United Arab Emirates, U.S, UAE, China

☆ Microsoft Makes High-Stakes Play in Tech Cold War With Emirati A.I. Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Paul Mozur | David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Under the partnership, Microsoft will give G42 permission to sell Microsoft services that use powerful A.I. chips, which are used to train and fine-tune generative A.I. products shared with G42 and includes an agreement to strip Chinese gear out of G42’s operations, among other steps. “When it comes to emerging technology, you cannot be both in China’s camp and our camp,” said Gina Raimondo, the Commerce Secretary, who traveled twice to the U.A.E. The accord is highly unusual, Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, said in an interview, reflecting the U.S. government’s extraordinary concern about protecting the intellectual property behind A.I.

Persons: Biden, ”, Gina Raimondo, Brad Smith Organizations: Microsoft, United Arab, U.S ., Commerce Locations: United Arab Emirates, China, Washington, Beijing, Gulf

☆ Retail sales jumped 0.7% in March, much higher than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Excluding auto-related receipts, retail sales jumped 1.1%, also well ahead of the estimate for a 0.5% increase. An increase in gas prices helped push the headline retail sales number higher, with sales up 2.1% on the month at service stations. Resilient consumer spending has helped keep the economy afloat despite higher interest rates and concerns over stubborn inflation. Consumer spending accounts for nearly 70% of U.S. economic output so it is critical to continued growth in gross domestic product. Stronger consumer spending could cause the Fed to hold off longer on cuts, said Andrew Hunter, deputy chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics.

Persons: Dow, Andrew Hunter, Hunter Organizations: Commerce Department, Labor Department, Sporting, Federal Reserve, Capital Economics Locations: Iran, Israel

☆ Biden administration agrees to provide $6.4 billion to Samsung for making computer chips in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration has reached an agreement to provide up to $6.4 billion in direct funding for Samsung Electronics to develop a computer chip manufacturing and research cluster in Texas. The government support comes from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022 with the goal of reviving the production of advanced computer chips domestically. Samsung's cluster in Taylor, Texas, would include two factories that would make four- and two-nanometer chips. In addition to the $6.4 billion, Samsung has indicated it also will claim an investment tax credit from the U.S. Treasury Department. The government has previously announced terms to support other chipmakers including Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in projects spread across the country.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, Lael Brainard Organizations: Samsung Electronics, Commerce Department, Texas, Samsung, White, National Economic Council, Defense Department, U.S, U.S . Treasury Department, Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Locations: Texas, United States, Taylor , Texas, Austin , Texas, Austin, China

☆ U.S. Awards Samsung $6.4 Billion to Bolster Semiconductor Production
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Madeleine Ngo | Don Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration will give up to $6.4 billion in grants to Samsung, one of the world’s largest chipmakers, the latest in a slew of awards intended to shore up domestic production of cutting-edge semiconductors. The money will help Samsung, the South Korean company, fund its new chip manufacturing hub in Taylor, Texas, and expand an existing site in nearby Austin. Samsung will now build an additional manufacturing plant and upgrade a facility under construction in Taylor. Federal officials said the grants would help create a U.S. hub for the development and production of leading-edge semiconductors. The announcement follows other awards that federal officials have made to semiconductor manufacturers in recent weeks.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Samsung, South Korean, Federal, Commerce Department Locations: Taylor , Texas, Austin, Taylor, Texas, U.S, United States

☆ Raimondo: Commerce Dept. will spend all of the CHIPS Act grant money this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Megan Cassella | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

TAYLOR, Texas — The Commerce Department is on track to dole out all of the $39 billion in grant money allocated under the CHIPS Act by year-end, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told CNBC on Monday. The Commerce Department is providing the money to semiconductor companies to incentivize them to build out manufacturing production capabilities in the U.S. "I expect all of the money in the CHIPS Act will be allocated by the end of this year." The award announcements so far have focused primarily on leading-edge chips, the most advanced type of semiconductors. Now that the biggest grants have been doled out, future award packages will focus on memory chips and investments in suppliers, wafers, and chemicals, Raimondo said.

Persons: TAYLOR, Gina Raimondo, Biden, We'll, Raimondo, Taylor Organizations: The Commerce, CNBC, Commerce Department, U.S, Samsung, Texas —, Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Locations: Texas, Arizona , New Mexico , Ohio, Oregon, Arizona, South Korea

☆ Surging inflation fears sent markets tumbling and Fed officials scrambling
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Energy prices, which have been a major factor in the past two months' inflation readings, pushed higher on signs of further geopolitical turmoil. Minutes released Wednesday from the March Fed meeting showed officials were concerned about higher inflation and looking for more convincing evidence it is on a steady path lower. Sticky price CPI entails items such as housing, motor vehicle insurance and medical care services, while flexible price is concentrated in food, energy and vehicle prices. "If that's the case, you would require a decent amount of unemployment to get inflation all the way to 2.0%." That's why Furman and others have pushed for the Fed to rethink it's determined commitment to 2% inflation.

Persons: Spencer Platt, —, Stocks, Jason Furman, We've, Israel, Jim Paulsen, Wells, Substack, Paulsen, Furman, Barack Obama, Jamie Dimon, John Williams, Susan Collins, it's, Larry Fink Organizations: Getty, Investors, Dow Jones, CNBC, of Economic Advisers, New York Fed, National Federation of Independent Business, Labor Department, JPMorgan, University of Michigan's, Boston, Commerce, CPI, Citigroup, Fed, Atlanta Fed, Dallas Fed, Harvard, BlackRock Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Iran, Israel

☆ Adtech company Criteo is laying off up to 4% of staff as it prepares for the cookie apocalypse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewCriteo, the publicly traded adtech company, told staffers this week it would lay off up to 4% of its staff, people familiar with the matter told Business Insider. The company had 3,563 employees as of December 31, meaning the reduction could affect around 140 people. AdvertisementIn its most recent quarter, Criteo reported a return to profit on flat revenue, having made $70 million in cost savings over 2023. Criteo also made a round of layoffs last year, Digiday reported, though the company didn't disclose the number of employees affected.

Persons: —, we've, Criteo, retargeting, It's, Petrus, Digiday Organizations: Service, Business, Google Locations: Paris

☆ China is worried about overcapacity, too — but it sees the problem differently than the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US treasury secretary raised concerns about China's overproduction in her recent visit to the country. China has hit back at her concerns, but it's also concerned about overcapacity, an economist says. Just like the US and all of China's trading partners, Chinese authorities are concerned about industrial overcapacity and want to curb it. She added that China's trade surplus with the world meant there might be fewer incentives for Beijing to tackle the issue. AdvertisementAnalysts expect the US debate over its trade issues with China to heat up heading into the presidential election season.

Persons: it's, —, Yue Su, Su, Janet Yellen, Janet Yellen's, Yellen, Li Qiang, Mao Ning, Mao Organizations: Service, Economist Intelligence Unit, European Union, EU, Commerce Department Locations: China, Beijing, People's Republic of China, Thailand, EU, —

☆ U.S. to award Samsung up to $6.6 billion chip subsidy for Texas expansion: Reuters
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration plans to announce it is awarding more than $6 billion to South Korea's Samsung next week to expand its chip output in Taylor, Texas, as it seeks to ramp up chipmaking in the U.S., two people familiar with the matter said. The Biden administration plans to announce it is awarding more than $6 billion to South Korea's Samsung next week to expand its chip output in Taylor, Texas, as it seeks to ramp up chipmaking in the U.S., two people familiar with the matter said. It will also include an investment in another undisclosed location, the source said, adding that Samsung will more than double its U.S. investment to over $44 billion as part of the deal. Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office did not respond to requests for comment. One of the sources said it would be the third largest of the program, just behind Taiwan's TSMC , which was awarded $6.6 billion on Monday and agreed to expand its investment by $25 billion to $65 billion and to add a third Arizona factory by 2030.

Persons: Biden, Gina Raimondo, Greg Abbott's, Taiwan's Organizations: Biden, South, Samsung, Commerce, Commerce Department Locations: Taylor , Texas, U.S, Taylor, Texas, Arizona

☆ A crucial report Wednesday is expected to show little progress against inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Scott Olson | Getty ImagesA closely watched Labor Department report due Wednesday is expected to show that not much progress is being made in the battle to bring down inflation. To be sure, inflation has come down dramatically from its peak above 9% in June 2022. That showed headline inflation running at 2.5% and the core rate at 2.8% in February. For their part, markets have grown nervous about the state of inflation and how it will affect rate policy. "I don't see a whole lot here that is going to move things magically the way they want to go," North said.

Persons: Scott Olson, We're, Dan North, North, they've Organizations: Getty, Labor Department, Federal Reserve, Allianz Trade North America, Fed, Commerce, PCE Locations: Chicago , Illinois

☆ Kaspersky: Biden administration preparing to prevent Americans from using Russian-made software over national security concern
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

US government agencies are already banned from using Kaspersky Lab software but action to prevent private companies from using the software would be unprecedented. It’s the latest US government effort to use its vast regulatory powers to prevent Americans from using popular technology that US officials consider a national security risk. A Kaspersky Lab spokesperson did not respond to questions about a potential prohibition or about how big the company’s market share is in the US. Commerce Department officials have to carefully consider how practical any such regulation would be for the department to enforce and for users to comply with. But the expected move from the Biden administration would go a step further by using Commerce Department authorities to prevent private companies from using Kaspersky Lab software.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kaspersky, Trump, ”, ” Henry Young, Young, Eugene Kaspersky, ” Kaspersky, hasn’t, Harold Martin, ” CNN’s Zachary Cohen, Phil Mattingly, Evan Perez Organizations: CNN, Commerce Department, Kaspersky, Commerce, Trump, Emergency Economic, Street, Companies “, Business Software Alliance, Department, McAfee, Symantec, Lab, —, Russian Ministry of Defense, West, National Security Agency, Politico, NSA, Wall Street Locations: Russian, America, Commerce, Moscow, Russia, Israel, Eugene, Ukraine

☆ China says innovations, not subsidies, are powering EV edge as Yellen raises 'overcapacity' concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP) (Photo by BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images)China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said that the speedy rise of the country's electric vehicle firms was not because of subsidies, but due to "constant innovations." The allegations about "overcapacity" by the U.S. and Europe are without merit, he said, China's Ministry of Commerce reported Monday. Wang also attributed China's EV edge to "well-established supply chain system and market competition." The roundtable discussion centered around the European Union's anti-subsidy probe into electric vehicle imports from China, among other topics, according to the statement. Wang noted that the Chinese EV industry has "made an important contribution to the global response to climate change as well as green and low-carbon transformation."

Persons: ISMOYO, Commerce Wang Wentao, Wang Organizations: Getty, Commerce, U.S, China's Ministry of Commerce, EV, Commerce Ministry, EU Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, AFP, Europe, Paris, China

☆ Targeting Chinese chips, U.S. to push Dutch on ASML service contracts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Alan Estevez, the U.S. export policy chief, is scheduled to meet in the Netherlands next Monday with officials from the Dutch government and ASML to discuss the servicing contracts, the people said. Washington may also be seeking to add to a list of Chinese chipmaking factories restricted from receiving Dutch equipment as part of the discussions, one of the people said. The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed the upcoming meeting but did not elaborate on which topics would be on the agenda. The meeting of officials on Monday is one example of that," the Ministry told Reuters. The Commerce Department and ASML, whose shares briefly fell after the news, declined to comment.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Alan Estevez, ASML Organizations: Dutch Foreign Ministry, Ministry, Reuters, Embassy, U.S, China, Commerce Department Locations: Netherlands, China, U.S, Washington, Beijing

☆ Bumper corporate profits helped prevent mass layoffs and a recession, says leading economist
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

After-tax profits hit a record high of $2.8 trillion in the fourth quarter, per the Commerce Department. "The gangbuster gain in profits helps explain why businesses have been able and willing to hold the line on layoffs, which was key to avoiding recession," he said. Advertisement"It also helps explain the record stock market, and the resulting positive wealth effects and resilient consumer spending." Related storiesAs for stocks, they're generally valued at a multiple to company profits so they've hit record highs too. That has made stockholders feel wealthier and more comfortable spending, Zandi said.

Persons: —, Mark Zandi, That's, Zandi Organizations: Service, Corporate America, Corporations, Commerce Department, Business, Federal Reserve, Companies

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