Many Chinese firms have struggled in the United States. Renewable energy is a fledgling, high-risk market. Can Goldwind USA, a leading producer of wind turbines, overcome the odds? The case examines the many strategic choices Goldwind faced as it established its first major overseas subsidiary in Chicago: building a local team around a U.S. CEO; bridging cross-cultural differences among management; overcoming regulatory hurdles; sourcing from local suppliers; and facilitating turbine sales through innovative deal structures.
What is Baosteel, a top Chinese steelmaker, doing in Brazil? The company is responding to the Chinese government's "go global" policy and to the possible rise in iron ore input costs. But steel mills are complex, capital-intensive projects, and Brazil is an emerging market that poses manifold risks to foreign investors. Vale do Rio Doce, Baosteel's prospective partner, is an iron miner with little experience in steelmaking. Baosteel must evaluate whether it is choosing the right country, partner, and site for its first overseas greenfield investment.
This case begins with Baosteel's decision to build a steel mill in Brazil with Vale do Rio Doce, the world's leading iron mining company. Regulatory obstacles and unexpected costs have placed the project in jeopardy. Outside Brazil, however, Baosteel has been growing rapidly, and market trends favor an overseas plant. Baosteel must decide whether or not to continue its efforts to build a steel plant in Brazil.
The case begins with Baosteel's renewed effort at building a steel mill in Brazil with Vale do Rio Doce. But again, the company runs into problems with obtaining regulatory approvals. This is compounded by the global financial crisis that seriously impacts the global steel industry. How will Baosteel react to this adverse situation?