CHINA SUSPENDS RARE EARTH EXPORTS
April 15th, 2025Via: New York Post:
China has stopped shipping some heavy rare earth metals and magnets critical to US production of everything from cell phones to fighter jets as Beijing’s trade war with Washington simmers, leaving American industry in a bind.
Effective April 3, China is no longer exporting seven heavy rare earth metals processed exclusively in the Asian power, as well as heavy rare earth magnets — of which about 90% of the world’s supply are also synthesized on Beijing’s territory.
The export halt applies to all countries, but access to elements like dysprosium and yttrium are critical to US industry — especially in the tech, electric vehicle, aircraft and defense sectors, according to Drew Horn, who served as the top US official on strategic minerals and energy supply chain development in President Trump’s first administration.
A post a few days ago here said Trump has suspended tariffs on Chinese computer and phone-related exports, so we can go on buying them. China then stops selling the US the materials needed to make these things, so we can no longer build our own. Sounds like they’re cornering the market on electronics, but they get to blame Trump for it rather than appearing to have made these moves just because they can. Sounds like a deal.