Industry insiders and analysts alike have long questioned the extent to which U.S. companies can capitalize on the opportunities that exist in a rapidly developing China. The specters of intellectual property theft, complex export control regulations and opaque market information have contributed to an overall climate of trepidation. However, these challenges should not be viewed as insurmountable obstacles, but instead as challenges to be understood and overcome. In fact, now is an especially ripe time for U.S. companies with an interest in China: The Obama administration’s recent “Asia pivot” coupled with China’s ongoing technological limitations and budgeting priorities have created a range of previously unrecognized opportunities, particularly in the clean and renewable energy sector.
High Stakes on Both Sides
Escalating environmental hazards, energy security concerns and political pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions all have incentivized Beijing to make renewable energy a top domestic priority. The historic U.S.-China climate change accord signed last November formally committed Beijing to reach its absolute carbon emissions peak by 2030.
