Saving Christmas

[Bloomberg]( Follow Us [Get the newsletter]( Is Covid set to spoil Christmas? The global economy is cranking into gear after a hit from the pandemic, even as the virus curtails travel and keeps some countries in lockdown. But the recovery is also exposing snarls in the global supply chain, spurred in part by labor [shortages]( and the spread of the delta variant, that threaten to put a fresh dent in growth. Unfilled orders at European factories hit an [unprecedented]( level in August as companies struggled to meet demand amid shipping bottlenecks. China’s factory activity [contracted]( last month for the first time since April 2020. The shortfall in semiconductors appears if anything to be getting worse, threatening a slew of electronic gadgets for consumers as the holiday season draws closer. Many countries are experiencing [delays]( not just in production but also with food supplies, leading to bare supermarket shelves. Robusta [coffee]( prices have reached four-year highs amid concerns about tightening supply from Asia to the Americas. In the U.K. the problem is further [exacerbated]( by Brexit, with a lack of truck drivers to ferry food to stores and fast-food chains. Some McDonald’s have run low on bacon, milkshakes and bread. That presents a fresh headache for politicians who are racing to try and plug labor gaps and address the supply-chain [kinks](, fearing headlines about a lack of Christmas turkeys and toys. The risk is the shortages play into the broader pandemic fatigue among their voters, who above all want the sense that life is returning to a semblance of normal. New economic tailwinds could quickly become a political problem. — [Rosalind Mathieson]( A worker applies a Christmas tree decal at a factory in West Virginia. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Click [here]( to follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter, and tell us how we’re doing or what we’re missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net. Global Headlines Test case | President Xi Jinping’s push to spread the wealth has sent shock waves through the Chinese economy, triggering [speculation]( Beijing will reverse the reforms that lifted incomes nationally. To understand what Xi envisions for “common prosperity,” look to a pilot program in the wealthy province of Zhejiang, home to 65 million people and some of China’s most successful private companies. - An American chamber of commerce in the same Chinese city that saw a U.S. consulate shut amid political [tensions]( is working to restart operations. - Didi Global is helping workers establish their first [union](, a move other tech giants may follow as China imposes rules to protect blue-collar workers from exploitation. Emergency response | After Hurricane Ida wrecked transmission lines and left New Orleans in darkness, infrastructure advocates see an [opportunity]( to rebuild an electricity grid that’s more resilient to increasingly violent storms from the Gulf of Mexico. A $550 billion infrastructure bill in Congress that’s a key piece of President Joe Biden’s economic agenda and could help pay for improvements may gain more Republican support as a result, one GOP senator said. A billboard damaged by Hurricane Ida in Luling, Louisiana. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Government in waiting | With the last U.S. troops off Afghan soil, the Taliban have indicated they're ready to [announce]( a new government under the leadership of their top spiritual leader in the next few days. Meanwhile, U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will be questioned by lawmakers today over the chaotic evacuations from Kabul and the failure to foresee the rapid collapse of the Afghan military. Japan’s current Covid wave has mostly affected [younger]( people, reflecting both the efficacy of its vaccination program among the elderly and the pitfalls of a slow rollout that hasn’t reached most youth. In many areas of Tokyo, less than 20% of those in their 20s and 30s are fully vaccinated. Party calculations | With political loyalties in flux after 16 years under Chancellor Angela Merkel, coalition building in Germany is more [complex]( than ever, [Arne Delfs]( reports. Five parties stand a chance of playing a role in government after the Sept. 26 elections, leaving whichever leader wins the vote facing a range of choices for potential partnerships. Best of Bloomberg Opinion - [Ethiopia’s Civil War Is Only Getting Worse: Bobby Ghosh]( - [Afghanistan and the Return of Cruise-Missile Diplomacy: Eli Lake]( - [Covid Vaccines Are Lucrative. That’s a Problem: David Fickling]( Election splurge | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to release a campaign platform today promising tens of billions of dollars in spending on new initiatives that would be fully financed by a tax-revenue windfall from an expanding economy. Canadians vote on Sept. 20, and polls show the Liberals in a tough [fight]( to stay in power as they are locked in a statistical tie with the main opposition Conservative Party. What to Watch - Biden will [reassure]( Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the U.S. is committed to countering Russian expansion in the region as the leaders meet for the first time today at the White House. - Democrats on the House committee in charge of turning Biden’s tax plan into law are at odds over increasing the capital gains tax, with some [opposing]( raising the rate on investment earnings for those making more than $1 million to 39.6%. - A Texas law barring [abortion]( after the sixth week of pregnancy took effect at least temporarily today as the U.S. Supreme Court deliberated over a bid by clinics and doctors to block the measure while a legal challenge goes forward. - Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said in an interview his government had uncovered a “[bigger hole](” in the nation’s finances than previously thought as it prepares to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. - Iran’s new government suggested that formal nuclear talks may not restart until November, casting [doubt]( on a deal with world powers happening this year. And finally ... When an explosion of hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate [devastated]( a huge swathe of Beirut last year, the damage seemed insurmountable. But as [Lin Nouheid]( reports, within days a group called Bebw’shebbek, Arabic for Door and Window, was formed, helping repair the city's shattered communities and damaged homes. Now they're using authentic materials in a capital where red-roofed Ottoman-era jewels are often demolished to make way for luxury towers. A grain silo at the Port of Beirut. Photographer: Manu Ferneini for Bloomberg Businessweek  Like Balance of Power? [Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com](, where you'll find trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Balance of Power newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Bloomberg.com]( | [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022