News Analysis Factories in China are being forced to shut down amid an energy crisis, as more than half of the provinces have imposed electricity-use restrictions. Forced reductions even apply to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces, which generate roughly one-third of the nation’s GDP. Local governments are enforcing shut-down rules in their attempt to meet energy-use and emissions reduction targets set by Beijing. As a result, some companies have cut production by as much as 50 percent, adding to existing supply chain disruptions. The situation is particularly damaging as exporters scramble to fulfill merchandise orders for the upcoming Christmas season. Previous COVID-19 lockdown measures included shutting factories, preventing migrant workers from getting to the cities to work, and closing ports. After a year and a half of disruptions, many companies were hoping that Christmas orders would pull them out of the economic doldrums, only to be hit by the latest …