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U.S. Energy Storage Market Expected to Reach 320GWh by 2035, K-Battery Industry Eyes Opportunities As demand for electric vehicles slows and competition from Chinese batteries intensifies, uncertainty looms over South Korea's battery industry. However, the U.S. energy storage system (ESS) market may present a new opportunity, driven by the expansion of renewable energy and the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade highlighted these trends in a report released on August 27, titled 'K-Battery: Crisis or Transition?'Recent performance issues in the South Korean battery sector have become increasingly apparent. In the first quarter of this year, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and POSCO Future M reported operating losses of 207.8 billion won, 155.6 billion won, and 1.1 billion won, respectively.Despite a global increase in demand, South Korean battery companies continue to struggle due to simultaneous disruptions in the electric vehicle market and the growth structure centered around nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries. The contraction of the U.S. electric vehicle battery market, where South Korean firms have heavily invested, has particularly impacted their performance.U.S. electric vehicle sales growth rates have plummeted, with a decline of 31% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 23% in the first quarter of 2026, largely due to the elimination of tax credits for electric vehicle purchases. This decline has significantly affected South Korean battery companies that have concentrated much of their investment in the U.S. over the past few years.On the product front, the competitiveness of South Korea's flagship NCM batteries has weakened. In the European battery market, South Korean companies' market share is projected to drop from 55% in 2023 to 35% by 2025, while Chinese companies are expected to increase their share from 42% to 61% during the same period. The growing demand for mid-range electric vehicles has favored Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are more competitively priced.Amid these challenges, the ESS market is emerging as a new growth area. The global ESS market is expected to grow from 185GWh in 2023 to 1,449GWh by 2035, with the increasing share of renewable energy necessitating solutions for intermittent power generation. Additionally, the expansion of AI data centers is driving demand for uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and large-scale ESS.Particularly, the U.S. ESS market is projected to grow significantly, from 55GWh in 2023 to 320GWh by 2035, with the UPS market for AI data centers expected to expand at an annual rate of 47%, reaching 135GWh by 2035. This is close to the projected 156GWh for ESS in power grids at that time.Currently, the global ESS market is dominated by Chinese companies, which have advantages in the supply chain and manufacturing costs of LFP batteries. However, the competitive landscape may shift in the U.S. market. Starting in 2026, the U.S. will impose an additional 25% tariff on Chinese batteries used in ESS under Section 301 of the Trade Act. When combined with tariffs related to forced labor, the total tariff rate on Chinese ESS products could reach 40.9%, significantly higher than the 12.5% tariff on South Korean ESS products.Moreover, the U.S. has maintained the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit (AMPC) for domestically produced batteries and introduced policies to restrict the Chinese supply chain through the Prohibition of Foreign Entities (PFE) regulation. This could favor South Korean battery companies with local production capabilities.However, the U.S. ESS market may not immediately translate into a turnaround for South Korean companies. Chinese firms still hold a significant cost advantage in LFP manufacturing. Nevertheless, if the high tariffs on Chinese imports, the AMPC, and PFE regulations work in tandem, the price gap between Chinese imports and South Korean domestically produced products could narrow or even reverse.To establish the U.S. ESS market as a new growth pillar for K-batteries, it is essential to not only expand local production in the U.S. but also enhance the competitiveness of the domestic battery materials industry. As PFE regulations tighten, the ability to build a supply chain free from reliance on China, encompassing not just cell production but also materials and key minerals, will be crucial for competitiveness in the U.S. market.Hwang Kyung-in, head of the Strategic Industry Analysis Office at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, stated, 'To seize opportunities in the U.S. ESS market, strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic materials industry is vital.' He emphasized that for South Korean battery companies to effectively increase investments and enhance price competitiveness against China, detailed guidelines should allow for direct refunds and third-party transfers of domestic production tax credits.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 10:00:20 -
Xi Jinping Orders Full-Scale Rescue Efforts Amid Nepal Floods Severe flooding has struck the border area between Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, prompting Chinese President Xi Jinping to order comprehensive rescue efforts.According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, a landslide occurred on the Nepal side at around 10:30 a.m. on the 26th, resulting in significant casualties in the Zhikaze (日喀則) city of the Tibet Autonomous Region.Following the incident, President Xi instructed authorities to "mobilize all resources to search for and rescue the missing, and to evacuate residents in danger immediately." He emphasized the need to treat the injured swiftly to minimize casualties and to focus on scientific rescue efforts to prevent secondary disasters. Xi also urged local governments and relevant departments to implement various measures to prevent flooding and typhoons, keeping the worst-case scenario in mind.Chinese Premier Li Qiang also directed officials to quickly assess the number of missing and affected individuals and to mobilize rescue capabilities for emergency operations. Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Central Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Vice Premier, is leading the on-site rescue and recovery efforts alongside responsible officials from relevant departments.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 10:00:00
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Han Byeong-do Criticizes People Power Party for Inviting Park Geun-hye Han Byeong-do, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the People Power Party on August 27 for inviting former President Park Geun-hye to a workshop for lawmakers, calling it "a truly bizarre regression to the past." He also pledged to carry out police reform to address the public's distrust in law enforcement.During a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly, Han stated, "The People Power Party has officially invited former President Park to seek advice on the direction the party should take. This is indeed a bizarre regression to the past."He pointed out that Park was removed from office by a unanimous decision of the Constitutional Court due to her involvement in a corruption scandal and received a 22-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court. "How can they look to someone who has been judged by the public as a compass for the future?" he questioned.Han also announced plans for significant police reform in response to the public's loss of trust highlighted by the recent missing persons case in Jeju.He emphasized, "If we cannot trust the police, who are closest to issues directly related to the lives and safety of the public, it could lead to a crisis in the entire national security system. We can no longer leave reform solely to the police's self-regulation. We need high-intensity reforms that involve external oversight and public control over the police."Han added, "We will conduct a thorough review of the police organization and the overall security system through a police reform task force directly under the party leader. We will examine the entire process from reporting to investigation and resolution, ensuring that tragedies like that of Ms. Roh Mi-ran do not happen again."Additionally, Han expressed his commitment to providing all possible support for the safe return of citizens missing due to the recent flooding in Nepal, urging the government to make every effort in search and rescue operations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 09:56:20
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Motif Challenges Second Evaluation Results of AI Foundation Model Motif Technologies has raised objections to the second evaluation results of the independent AI foundation model (AI foundation model) conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The company reversed its initial decision not to contest the results and is now demanding the disclosure of detailed scores and evaluation criteria for each category. Additionally, Motif has stated that it will not participate in the third evaluation, regardless of the outcome of its objections.On August 27, Motif CEO Lim Seong-hwan issued a statement saying, "The AAII, which received a high score, is not just a simple benchmark but a composite index of nine benchmarks widely used in the global AI industry." He emphasized the need for an explanation of why there was a significant discrepancy between the AAII scores of 47 and 31 and the benchmark conversion scores and expert evaluations.Previously, Motif had accepted the second evaluation results and stated it would not file an objection. However, after the Ministry's explanation suggested that Motif's model had high benchmark scores but issues in expert and user evaluations, the company changed its stance. CEO Lim noted, "We believe there could be misunderstandings regarding the technical direction and outcomes we pursued, and we request the detailed disclosure of evaluation scores and a re-evaluation."Motif is requesting that the evaluation results and detailed evaluation content be made available for participating companies to review. CEO Lim stated, "It is important to provide practical feedback and direction so that selected and eliminated companies can prepare better models and strategies in the future."The company is also seeking clarification on the basis for the scoring and conversion methods used for the benchmark scores. According to Motif, the top model in the AI foundation model evaluation scored 47 points, while the fourth-ranked model scored 31 points, but the gap was reduced to four points when converted to evaluation scores. CEO Lim pointed out that this scoring method may not adequately reflect the performance differences observed in the benchmarks.Motif has also requested the disclosure of detailed criteria and results for expert evaluations. CEO Lim remarked, "Even considering the technical reports of each model, it is difficult to understand the specific reasoning behind a model with lower benchmark performance ranking first in expert evaluations." He added that during the expert evaluation process, they received written questions that were difficult to understand, such as whether any companies with foreign capital or overseas entities holding voting rights were involved, and emphasized the need for clarification on how such questions were utilized in the evaluation process.Furthermore, Motif is asking for the methodology, detailed criteria, and results of user evaluations to be made public. The company had previously suggested a blind evaluation method where the developers' identities were not disclosed, arguing that prior knowledge of the developers could influence user evaluations due to brand recognition or biases.However, Motif has stated that it will not participate in the third stage of the AI foundation model evaluation, regardless of the outcome of its objections. CEO Lim expressed gratitude to the government for providing an opportunity to test their technology through the second evaluation, stating, "In the future, we will strive to create the best frontier model in Korea on our own."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 09:56:10
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Kim Go-eun Named Bechdelian for Series at Bechdel Day 2026 Actress Kim Go-eun has been selected as a Bechdelian in the series category for 'Bechdel Day 2026.' Kim Go-eun earned this recognition for her performances in three works: 'The King’s Affection,' 'The Price of Confession,' and 'Yumi's Cells 3.' All three productions were also included in the 'Bechdel Choice 10' for the series category this year. Kim expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am always thankful for the opportunity to act in good works and meet great characters. It has been a joyful and meaningful time for me as an actress to encounter characters living different lives.” She added, “I appreciate everyone who has viewed my works positively and selected me as a Bechdelian. I will continue to strive to present good performances through new characters and stories.” Over the past year, Kim Go-eun has showcased her acting range by transitioning between various genres and characters. In 'The Price of Confession,' she transformed into a cold-hearted 'witch' devoid of emotions, while in 'The King’s Affection,' she depicted the love, friendship, and life struggles of a character over two decades. In 'Yumi's Cells 3,' she maintained the series' focus by guiding the intimate emotions and growth of a woman through its third season. Na Won-jung, a judge from the series category and a reporter for JoongAng Ilbo, remarked, “Looking at Kim Go-eun's works over the past year, the term 'the eldest daughter of K-content' naturally comes to mind. She has expanded the range of characters a single actress can handle and has moved further ahead.” He continued, “Her status as a leading star who can enhance production simply by being cast signifies that her challenges will contribute to the growth of Korean dramas and women's narratives. This is why Kim Go-eun's continuous transformation is welcomed.” The fact that all three of Kim Go-eun's leading roles were selected for this year's Bechdel Choice 10 has also drawn attention. Lim Dae-hyung, a programmer for Bechdel Day 2026, described this as “not just a record of prolific output but an industrial signal.” He noted, “The simultaneous selection of these three works, in connection with the choices of a star actor, holds significance beyond coincidence regarding the sustainability of women's narratives.” In particular, 'Yumi's Cells 3' stands out as a female-led drama centered on women's psychology, successfully continuing to its third season while achieving both popularity and sustainability. Lim Dae-hyung evaluated it as “a case that demonstrates that women's narratives can possess competitiveness as long-term series rather than one-off projects or trends.” Now in its seventh year, Bechdel Day is a content festival that highlights the values of gender equality and cultural diversity through films and series. Based on American cartoonist Alison Bechdel's 'Bechdel Test,' it expands on seven criteria tailored to the domestic content environment to select the 'Bechdel Choice 10' in the film and series categories each year. Among the creators involved in the selected works, Bechdelian titles are awarded to directors, writers, actors, and producers. 'Bechdel Day 2026' will take place from August 29 to 30 in the Yeonnam-dong area of Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, featuring screenings of the Bechdel Choice 10 selections, talks, and exhibitions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 09:56:00
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Yanggu Festival Promotes Responsible Pet Ownership and Adoption The Yanggu County government is creating an environment at the '2026 National Center Youth Yanggu Belly Button Festival' where pet owners and non-pet owners can enjoy the festivities together.From August 28 to 30, the county will operate a campaign titled 'Companionship with Pets' to promote responsible pet ownership and encourage the adoption of stray animals.This initiative aims to educate pet owners about public etiquette and reduce conflicts with non-pet owners, while also raising awareness about animal protection and adoption.Pets have increasingly become a part of everyday family life, moving beyond being a lifestyle choice for a select few households.According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in February, 29.2% of households in South Korea own pets, meaning nearly one in three households lives with a pet. Among pet-owning households, 80.5% have dogs, while 14.4% have cats.Despite the growing interest in pets, translating public etiquette into everyday practice remains a challenge.The same survey found that 74.9% of the public is aware of animal welfare laws and regulations, but only 48.8% of dog owners positively evaluate compliance with these guidelines. This highlights the need for education and promotion of pet etiquette as pet culture rapidly expands.In response to these changes, Yanggu County plans to utilize the Belly Button Festival, which attracts many visitors, as a platform to promote public etiquette for pet ownership. A promotional booth will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in front of the pet playground at the festival.The county's animal quarantine team will provide information on basic pet etiquette for visitors who bring their pets to public spaces. They will also promote adoption procedures for stray dogs under the county's care and inform attendees about a neutering support program for outdoor dogs.Participants in the campaign will receive promotional items such as pet treats and hygiene products. Notably, the integration of the pet playground with the campaign reflects an effort to accommodate visitors with pets.The goal is not only to enhance the festival experience but also to guide pet owners toward responsible use of the space while ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for non-pet owners. Yanggu County aims to foster a culture of mutual consideration between pet owners and non-owners and increase interest in the protection and adoption of stray animals through this campaign.Jeong Il-seop, head of the Yanggu County Livestock Distribution Division, stated, “As the number of people living with pets increases, the importance of proper pet etiquette is also growing. We hope this campaign raises awareness about public etiquette for pet ownership and stray dog adoption, leading to a culture where both people and animals can be happy together.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 09:56:00
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Koscom Focuses on Revamping Infrastructure for New Securities and Fractional Investment Markets Koscom is set to revamp its infrastructure for securities issuance, distribution, and settlement. Following the opening of the new securities and fractional investment markets this year, the company is accelerating efforts to build a shared infrastructure connecting market participants ahead of the implementation of the token securities system next year.According to the financial investment industry on the 27th, Koscom is preparing a joint issuance platform for token securities called 'KoSTO,' which can be used by multiple securities firms. This initiative aims to reduce the burden of system development and duplicate investments for individual securities firms while providing a standardized issuance, ledger management, and institutional linkage system from the market's inception.Currently, 12 securities firms, including Kiwoom Securities, Daishin Securities, IBK Investment & Securities, Yuanta Securities, BNK Investment & Securities, DB Securities, iM Securities, Meritz Securities, Kyobo Securities, Daol Investment & Securities, Woori Investment & Securities, and NH Investment & Securities, have signed a business agreement related to KoSTO.The establishment of the joint issuance platform is part of the preparatory work for the opening of the new securities market and the fractional investment over-the-counter exchange (KDX). In this regard, the Korea Exchange plans to launch a new securities market on November 16, where trust beneficiary securities can be traded based on assets such as art, real estate, and content. The KDX is also expected to open by the end of the year.Kim Wan-sung, head of Koscom's Digital Asset Business Division, stated, "The transformation of capital market infrastructure, where issuance, distribution, settlement, rights management, and collateral utilization are interconnected digitally, is the essence of token securities. We will steadily prepare to connect market participants reliably through KDX and KoSTO, including the tokenization of standard securities, on-chain settlement, and global network linkage." 2026-08-27 09:56:00
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UPDATE: BOK lifts 2026 growth forecast to 3.3% *Updated with detailed economic outlook and Gov. Shin's comments SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) -The Bank of Korea (BOK) sharply raised its 2026 growth forecast to 3.3 percent on Thursday, citing a stronger-than-expected semiconductor boom, hours after delivering a second consecutive interest-rate increase to contain persistent inflation pressure. The central bank lifted this year's growth outlook by 0.7 percentage point from its May estimate of 2.6 percent. It also raised its 2027 projection to 2.9 percent from 2.1 percent. The 2026 projection would mark South Korea's strongest annual growth since 2021. The upgrades reinforced the BOK's case for keeping monetary policy restrictive after the Monetary Policy Board raised the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.00 percent in a 6-1 decision earlier Thursday. Headline consumer inflation forecasts were unchanged at 2.7 percent for this year and 2.3 percent for next year. Underlying inflation, however, was revised higher. Core inflation is now expected at 2.5 percent in both 2026 and 2027, compared with the previous projections of 2.4 percent and 2.3 percent. The BOK said accumulated cost shocks were continuing to feed through into prices. Improving income conditions and stronger domestic demand were also gradually increasing demand-side pressure. The semiconductor boom accounted for about half of the upgrade to this year's growth outlook. The BOK estimated that stronger-than-expected semiconductor activity added 0.35 percentage point to the revision. Chip export volumes and prices exceeded earlier expectations, while exports of AI-related products expanded. Revisions to previously released economic data contributed another 0.20 percentage point. Faster investment linked to three major projects added 0.10 percentage point, while a smaller-than-expected impact from Middle East disruptions added another 0.10 point. Other factors partly offset those gains. The improvement is concentrated largely in exports and investment. Goods exports are now forecast to expand 9.7 percent this year, nearly double the 4.9 percent projected in May. Facilities investment is expected to grow 6.8 percent, up from the previous estimate of 4.4 percent. Private consumption is projected to increase 2.1 percent, only slightly above the May forecast of 2.0 percent. The construction investment outlook was lowered to 0.2 percent from 0.6 percent. The export boom is also expected to produce a record external surplus. The BOK raised its 2026 current-account surplus forecast to $450.0 billion from $250.0 billion in May. That would far exceed the previous record of $123.1 billion posted last year. The central bank said strong global AI investment was supporting semiconductor demand. Supply constraints were also lifting chip prices and widening the goods surplus. The BOK expects the semiconductor cycle to remain strong into next year but said the outlook carries considerable uncertainty from the pace of AI investment and developments in the Middle East. Its baseline scenario assumes global AI infrastructure investment will continue to expand and semiconductor exports will maintain strong growth. Production capacity is also expected to increase gradually. Middle East supply disruptions are expected to ease as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz partially recovers and crude supplies increase through alternative routes. The BOK assumes Brent crude will average $86 a barrel this year and fall to $74 a barrel next year, substantially below its May assumptions. The central bank said stronger semiconductor exports and investment could provide additional upside to growth. A broader spillover of the IT boom into other sectors would also support the economy. A pullback in AI investment, renewed Middle East tensions and heavier U.S. trade and tariff pressure were cited as major downside risks. The revised outlook came after the BOK earlier Thursday lifted its policy rate to 3.00 percent, its second consecutive 25-basis-point increase. Six of the seven board members supported the move. Hwang Kun-il favored keeping the rate at 2.75 percent. The board's six-month conditional rate projections also shifted higher. Of 21 probability-weighted dots, 10 were placed at 3.25 percent and six at 3.50 percent, while five remained at 3.00 percent. Gov. Shin Hyun-song nevertheless signaled that further tightening is likely to proceed more gradually after the back-to-back moves. He said the median projection of 3.25 percent was broadly consistent with about one additional increase over the four policy meetings during the coming six months. Shin stressed that the projections were conditional rather than a commitment. The BOK will first assess the impact of the July and August increases before deciding the timing of its next move. The policy statement also shifted away from July's explicit language calling for a continued rate-hike stance. The BOK instead said the timing and pace of further increases would depend on inflation, growth and financial-stability conditions. Shin said policymakers would closely monitor August and September inflation figures, preliminary second-quarter nominal GDP and business sentiment ahead of the next rate decision. The BOK also continues to see financial-stability risks from rising housing prices and household debt as a reason to maintain a restrictive policy stance. Shin said the two preemptive increases should help contain inflation through their effects on domestic demand, the exchange rate and import prices. The central bank said it would continue to monitor inflation and growth alongside housing prices, household debt and broader financial conditions when deciding the timing and pace of further tightening. AJP Takeaways: The BOK raised its 2026 growth forecast by 0.7 percentage point to 3.3 percent after lifting the benchmark rate to 3.00 percent. A stronger semiconductor boom accounted for 0.35 percentage point of the growth upgrade, while the goods export growth forecast was nearly doubled to 9.7 percent. Headline inflation forecasts were unchanged, but core inflation was raised to 2.5 percent for both 2026 and 2027 as demand-side pressure strengthens. The BOK expects a record $450 billion current-account surplus, while Shin signaled that further rate increases are likely to proceed more gradually. 2026-08-27 09:55:10 -
Lee meets Samsung chief in private amid push for mega chip cluster SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung held a private dinner meeting with Samsung Group chairman Lee Jae-yong earlier this week, according to sources in political and business circles on Thursday. Their talks at an unidentified location in Seoul the previous day are drawing attention for their possible focus on major domestic projects including plans to build a mega semiconductor cluster amid growing U.S. pressure on South Korean companies to expand investment in the U.S. Although Cheong Wa Dae declined to confirm details of the meeting, saying it was difficult to verify private schedules, the meeting was part of a series of informal gatherings Lee has held or is seeking to arrange with top business leaders. He met with SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won on Aug. 20 and is also reportedly coordinating a meeting with Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Eui-sun. The first one-on-one meeting between Lee and the Samsung chairman came about two months after they last met shortly before the government unveiled its semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI)-related mega projects in June. The two also appeared together with other business leaders at an AI-related gathering in San Francisco about a month ago. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have pledged to invest more than 4,000 trillion won (US$2.89 trillion) in the development of physical AI and the expansion of infrastructure for AI data centers including a combined 800 trillion won for a semiconductor cluster in the country's southwestern region including Gwangju. Earlier in the day, just hours before the dinner meeting, Lee stressed the importance of the projects, describing them as key to promoting locally led growth while fostering next-generation industries. Their private dinner also came as Seoul and Washington have been discussing a $350 billion investment package under a broader trade deal reached last fall including $150 billion for a shipbuilding cooperation project known as MASGA and a $200 billion investment fund. Seoul is reportedly in the final stages of talks with Washington on the fund’s first investment project, but the two sides have yet to agree on how profits and risks would be shared and how the investment would be made. Washington has been pushing for faster implementation of the project and has also called for more investment in the U.S. by South Korean companies. Seoul, however, has maintained that any investment should be commercially viable and generate stable returns to avoid placing an excessive burden on businesses and taxpayers. Against this backdrop, Lee and the Samsung chief likely discussed how additional U.S. investment demands could affect Samsung's domestic investment plans and what government support could help speed up the southwestern cluster project. Samsung is already investing heavily in the U.S. while also expected to play a key role in the planned cluster. As Lee seeks to work closely with leaders of major conglomerates to push ahead with the mega domestic projects while responding to growing pressure from Washington, experts have warned that additional large-scale investment commitments in the U.S. could strain South Korean companies' resources and potentially delay those projects. AJP Takeaways • President Lee Jae Myung reportedly held a private dinner with Samsung Group Chairman Lee Jae-yong in Seoul on Aug. 26, 2026, with discussions believed to have focused on major domestic investment projects, including a planned mega semiconductor cluster. • Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have pledged a combined 800 trillion won for a semiconductor cluster in southwestern Korea as part of more than 4,000 trillion won in planned investments in physical AI and AI data center infrastructure. • The meeting came amid negotiations between Korea and the United States over a $350 billion investment package and growing U.S. demands for Korean companies to expand investment in America, raising concerns that additional U.S. commitments could delay major domestic projects. 2026-08-27 09:53:30 -
Trump Signs Order Banning Foreign Equipment in U.S. Power Grid Ahead of Xi's Visit Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has signed an executive order banning the purchase and installation of foreign power grid equipment that could pose a national security threat. This move comes as Trump ramps up pressure on China ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. next month.On August 26, Bloomberg and Fox News reported that Trump signed an executive order restricting the purchase, import, and installation of large-scale foreign power system equipment that could threaten the security of the U.S. power grid. Trump explained that foreign power equipment could endanger critical U.S. infrastructure through cyberattacks, remote manipulation, or supply chain disruptions.The executive order could apply to a wide range of power grid equipment, including transformers, generators, grid-connected inverters, battery energy storage systems (ESS), turbines, and industrial control systems. Notably, related software, firmware, and remote access capabilities may also be subject to regulation. Furthermore, if the Secretary of Energy determines that already installed foreign equipment poses a risk, they may require isolation, monitoring, separation, replacement, or removal. The Secretary of Energy is also tasked with consulting with the Secretary of Defense and other relevant departments to issue related regulations within 120 days.While the order does not explicitly name China, it is widely interpreted as targeting Chinese power equipment. U.S. experts have raised concerns about cybersecurity risks associated with Chinese energy equipment, particularly after discovering undocumented communication devices in some Chinese solar inverters last year. There are fears that such equipment could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to the power grid or be manipulated remotely.This action aligns with Trump's strategy to increase pressure on China ahead of Xi's visit scheduled for September 24. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the U.S. is considering imposing an additional 7.5% tariff on Chinese products due to concerns over China's excess production capacity. The U.S. has been conducting an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act regarding China's overproduction issues and is reportedly considering releasing the findings before the summit.Additionally, sanctions against Iran are emerging as another tool to pressure China. The U.S. is set to announce new sanctions this week aimed at further isolating Iran economically, including secondary sanctions that could target third-country companies and institutions doing business with Iran. Reports indicate that companies based in China and Hong Kong may also be included in these sanctions.Thus, the Trump administration appears to be pursuing a dual strategy of pressure and negotiation with China ahead of Xi's visit. China is expected to respond by maintaining its cooperation with Iran while avoiding direct confrontation with the U.S., focusing on preserving its competitiveness in key industrial sectors. As a result, issues such as power grid security, advanced technology, overproduction, and sanctions against Iran are likely to emerge as key topics during the upcoming U.S.-China summit.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 09:52:00