China's Clean-Tech Lead Reshapes Energy Trade

China has widened its lead across batteries, solar, wind, electric vehicles, and related supply chains, giving its firms a central role in the global energy transition.

The advantage is producing lower-cost equipment and record cross-border trade, while also raising concerns in the United States and Europe about strategic dependence, industrial competition, and cybersecurity. Tariffs, export controls, and efforts to build alternative supply chains could reduce exposure to China but may also raise costs and fragment trade, even as global manufacturing capacity exceeds demand in several segments.