China will tighten reporting controls on strategic rare earth elements, according to its Commerce Ministry, in a move that could choke off America’s supply of critical minerals used in the production of electric cars and missiles.
The ministry said on Tuesday that exporters of rare earth elements would need to report their shipment orders, although no limitations were announced at the time. The government did not publicly specific which minerals would be subject to the new reporting requirement.
The decision is being viewed as a message to Washington about Beijing’s potential to target specific industries as a response to the U.S.’s own restrictions on high-end semiconductors.
The decision also comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is slated to travel to San Francisco next week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he is expected to meet President Joe Biden and attend a reception with U.S. corporate elites.
[Oh, gosh. If only we didn’t have a real Manchurian candidate as president, even if he is mostly Chinese cabbage brained. ~ Beege]
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