China announced banning export of special minerals to US

[Maxmars]

There could be many ways to categorize this announcement...

It fits for a political discussion, and international trade discussion, and even an economic stressor for the US manufacturing industry.

Politically-speaking, President Biden recently decided to impose a tech-export ban on China

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On Monday, the Biden administration announced new export controls, perhaps most notably restricting exports to China of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI applications. According to Reuters, additional export curbs are designed to also impede China from accessing "24 additional chipmaking tools and three software tools," as well as "chipmaking equipment made in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia."

Nearly two dozen Chinese semiconductor companies will be added to the US entity list restricting their access to US technology, Reuters reported, alongside more than 100 chipmaking toolmakers and two investment companies. These include many companies that Huawei Technologies—one of the biggest targets of US export controls for years—depends on.

From ArsTechnica: US blocks China from foreign exports with even a single US-made chip
Subtitled: New China export curbs could hurt US chipmakers, allies more than Huawei.
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In what could be characterized as 'retaliation,' China has announced a new US ban...

From ArsTechnica: China hits US with ban on critical minerals used in tech manufacturing
Subtitled: China bans US exports of gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials.

On Tuesday, China's Ministry of Commerce punched back, announcing a ban that takes effect immediately on "exports of 'dual-use items' related to gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the US," Reuters reported. Such "dual-use items" cover goods and technologies used for civil or military purposes, while the rare-earth metals are critical to tech manufacturing.

"In principle, the export of gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the United States shall not be permitted," China's ministry said.

The retaliation was not unexpected. Experts previously told Ars that the US risked losing access to rare-earth metals critical to manufacturing a wide range of popular products if it placed any new trade restrictions on China. And yesterday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian warned at a press conference that China would "take measures to safeguard the rights and interests of its firms."

The question of the timing of these actions, first by the Biden administration, and then China's central government is suspect if we consider President-elect Trumps' stated intention to use the power of 'tariffs' to influence international order.

Could this be a parting "irritant" left for the new administration?  Could this simply be a useful Chinese 'offset' to the threat of tariffs?  Or with the affected industries now lobby for whatever course of action that might keep their businesses profitable?

A lot to work with here... should anyone be interested.

[Sirius]

Jolly good, more APT fun ahead. https://attack.mitre.org/groups/

Tradewar is synonym for cyberwar.

[Raptured]

The amount of exportables that the US prohibits going to China is massive.

Maybe this is China's way of saying "fuck around and find out"?

[Blaine91555]

I believe we still have the upper hand in this game, which is reminiscent of the Cold War with the USSR. If Trump were to block all trade with China, even for a few days, China would be brought to its knees.

GDP per Capita-
United States     86,601
China     12,969

Any interruption to the flow of money from the US to China hurts China's wealthy, powerful class. MAD applies to money the same as it does to weapons when so much money is flowing from the US to China. I think that's been the only reason the missiles have not flown many years ago.

[Raptured]

but think of the Wal Marts!  (they'd crumble)

If consumables from China stopped, can you even imagine the economic impact it would have on the US as a society?

[UltraBudgie]

If consumables from China stopped, can you even imagine the economic impact it would have on the US as a society?

what would happen?

i'm pretty much set for consumer goods, except for occasional replacements, and i prefer those not to be cheap junk.