Last week, China’s Ministry of Commerce published a document that went by the name of “announcement No. 62 of 2025”.
But this wasn’t just any bureaucratic missive. It has rocked the fragile tariffs truce with the US.
The announcement detailed sweeping new curbs on its rare earth exports, in a move that tightens Beijing’s grip on the global supply of the critical minerals - and reminded Donald Trump just how much leverage China holds in the trade war.
China has a near-monopoly in the processing of rare earths - crucial for the production of everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
That’s just China’s goto for any international being, as they’re literally the only ones capable/willing of processing them.
If only we knew how to… I dunno… invest in something other than Lithium. Something ubiquitous and cheap… like sodium.
Nahhhh
*angry upvote
I see what you did there
Your point is valid but less relevant. Lithium is an alkali metal found in different sources than rare earths, with Australia and South America producing the most.
Rare earths are expensive to refine which is why western mines and refineries have been outcompeted by China. If we were to subsidise local production we’d have an abundance, e.g. from Scandinavia.
Expensive to process safely and in an ecologically-conscious manner. Aka expensive in money but it’s important to note the environmental damage these processing plants can do when unregulated.