Posts

Rare Earth Minerals Affected by China Export Ban Used in EVs, Green Energy, and Military Tech

/2 Comments/in , /by

China has restricted the export of several crucial rare earth minerals to the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s tariff increases.

The restrictions come up short of a total ban, but they will probably slow the delivery of minerals needed by defense, energy, and electronics companies.

The term “rare earth minerals” is sometimes used broadly to refer to all valuable or unusual minerals, but in fact it refers to a specific list of 17 metallic elements. Fifteen of them are lanthanides, meaning they occupy a specific region of the periodic table of the elements that begins with lanthanum (atomic number 57). The lanthanides all share similar atomic structure and chemical behavior, so the grouping is not arbitrary.

The other two rare earth minerals are scandium and yttrium. They are collectively known as “rare earths” simply because the scientists who first discovered them believed they must be rare in nature, as they were difficult to identify. For example, the name of lanthanum comes from a Greek word that means “hidden,” and it was discovered by a chemist who was studying strange impurities in another mineral.

Explorers over the past 150 years discovered that some of the “rare earths” can actually be found in abundance by digging into the Earth’s crust. Many of those abundant deposits are under the control of Communist China – affording China a near-monopoly on processing and refining these metals. (Read more from “Rare Earth Minerals Affected by China Export Ban Used in EVs, Green Energy, and Military Tech” HERE)

China Hits Back With 125% Tariffs, Accuses U.S. Of ‘Bullying And Coercion’

/1 Comment/in , /by

China announced further retaliatory measures against the United States on Friday, raising tariffs on American goods to 125% as the trade war between the two countries continues to escalate.

The action comes after President Donald Trump on Wednesday raised tariffs on China to 125% in addition to a 20% tariff he had placed on the communist nation, citing its role in the fentanyl trade. American products expected to be most impacted by the new tariffs include soybeans, pharmaceutical drugs, and airplanes.

While Trump has said that China has taken advantage of the United States for decades through unfair trade and warned the country not to retaliate, Chinese leaders have accused America of “bullying” in its latest round of tariffs.

“The U.S.’s imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China seriously violates international economic and trade rules, basic economic laws and common sense, and is completely a unilateral bullying and coercion,” China’s Ministry of Finance said on Friday, according to a translation. (Read more from “China Hits Back With 125% Tariffs, Accuses U.S. Of ‘Bullying And Coercion’” HERE)

China Acknowledges Its Role in Years of Cyberattacks Against U.S. Over Support of Taiwan: Report

/1 Comment/in , /by

Chinese officials shocked their American counterparts during a secret meeting where they allegedly revealed Beijing was behind a series of cyberattacks against the US due to Washington’s support of Taiwan, according to a new report.

Officials from China and the former Biden administration met in secret last December in Geneva, Switzerland amid growing tensions over threats to Taiwan’s sovereignty — with Beijing dropping all pretenses and revealing that they played a role in hacking attacks on US ports, water utilities, airports, and other targets dating back years, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The extent of Beijing’s role was left ambiguous, but US officials interpreted it as a clear threat regarding America’s support of Taiwan as an independent nation, officials familiar with the meeting told the outlet.

The secret meeting was held with top officials from both nations and led by Nate Fick, the then-US ambassador-at-large for cyberspace and digital policy, along with Wang Lei, a top cyber official with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials said.

While China had previously blamed all claims of cyberattacks and espionage on rogue hackers, such as the Volt Typhoon group, Wang made it clear that the hacks were a direct result of the situation in Taiwan, which Beijing insists will be annexed in the coming years. (Read more from “China Acknowledges Its Role in Years of Cyberattacks Against U.S. Over Support of Taiwan: Report” HERE)

China Floats Possibility Of Killing More Americans In Response To Tariffs

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Two bloggers linked to China’s government floated the idea of upping the flow of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. in retaliation to President Trump’s tariffs, CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reported Tuesday.

Both Niu Tanquin and a blogger known as Rabbit Chairman posted messages on Chinese social media suggesting the state was preparing to end cooperation with the U.S. on fentanyl, according to screenshots which Yoon posted to X.

Two bloggers linked to China’s government floated the idea of upping the flow of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. in retaliation to President Trump’s tariffs, CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reported Tuesday.

Both Niu Tanquin and a blogger known as Rabbit Chairman posted messages on Chinese social media suggesting the state was preparing to end cooperation with the U.S. on fentanyl, according to screenshots which Yoon posted to X.

The bloggers shared a set of virtually identical bullet points outlining six policy responses China was preparing to counter Trump’s tariffs. Among the points were plans to slap tariffs on US soybean imports, ban US poultry imports and ban US films in China.

(Read more from “China Floats Possibility Of Killing More Americans In Response To Tariffs” HERE)

How China Has Amped up Its Factories and Is Threatening to Crush U.S. Industry With a New ‘Tsunami’ of Cheap Products

/1 Comment/in , /by

A $1.9 trillion “tsunami” is headed for American industry — and it’s coming from China.

The Communist country of 1.3 billion people has shifted that much cash into amping up its factories in just four years in an effort to overwhelm manufacturers around the world with an influx of cheap goods.

President Trump’s 125% tariff on all Chinese imports into the US — which he announced Wednesday as he paused steep duties on most other countries — is actually just the latest protective measure against China.

The European Union, Brazil, Mexico and Thailand have either imposed new tariffs in the last few months, or are considering such measures to protect their own industries from Chinese imports.

“The tsunami is coming for everyone,” said Katherine Tai, trade representative for former President Joe Biden, told The New York Times. (Read more from “How China Has Amped up Its Factories and Is Threatening to Crush U.S. Industry With a New ‘Tsunami’ of Cheap Products” HERE)

Bessent Had the Perfect Response to China Raising Tariffs on U.S. Goods

/0 Comments/in , , /by

China said it is raising tariffs on U.S. imports from 34 percent to 84 percent starting Thursday, an announcement that came hours after President Trump’s tariffs went into effect.

“If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a document, reports USA Today.

The latest tariffs on the U.S.’s trading partners includes a 104 percent tax on Chinese goods. . .

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the escalation a “loser” for China.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the Chinese actually don’t want to come and negotiate because they are the worst offenders in the international trading system,” he said. “And I can tell you that this escalation is a loser for them.”

(Read more from “Bessent Had the Perfect Response to China Raising Tariffs on U.S. Goods” HERE)

Trump Threatens China With Additional 50% Tariffs for Imposing Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S.

/0 Comments/in , /by

President Donald Trump is threatening China with additional 50-percent tariffs in response to President Xi Jinping’s announcement that the communist country would impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States.

Last week, during a speech in the Rose Garden, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on countries that have historically imposed high tariffs on the United States. Among those countries is China, which Trump slapped a 34-percent tariff on in addition to the tariffs that have been in place on China since Trump’s first term that former President Joe Biden did not end.

In response to the reciprocal tariffs, China announced retaliatory tariffs of 34 percent on U.S. goods. Now, Trump says that if the tariffs against the United States are not withdrawn, China will face an additional 50-percent tariff.

“Yesterday, China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long term Currency Manipulation, despite my warning that any country that Retaliates against the U.S. by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set,” Trump wrote on Truth Social:

Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

(Read more from “Trump Threatens China With Additional 50% Tariffs for Imposing Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S.” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Trump Eliminates China, Hong Kong Trade Exemptions to Combat Illicit Substance Imports

/0 Comments/in , /by

President Donald Trump eliminated trade exemptions with China and Hong Kong this week to combat illicit substance imports.

As part of his sweeping executive orders instituting tariffs on various nations this week, the president eliminated exemptions to address deceptive shipping practices from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong. Recognizing China’s role in the ongoing U.S. opioid crisis, the president suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments valued at $800 or less.

Under “duty-free de minimis,” shipments could enter the United States free of import duties or taxes so long as they were valued at $800 or less. The Trump administration charged that the PRC exploited this exemption by breaking large shipments into smaller pieces for the purpose of concealing illicit substances. (Read more from “Trump Eliminates China, Hong Kong Trade Exemptions to Combat Illicit Substance Imports” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

China Threatens U.S. With Retaliation if Trump Keeps Tariffs

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Chinese Commerce Ministry on Thursday demanded President Donald Trump immediately rescind the tariffs he announced on Wednesday, threatening unspecified “countermeasures” if he does not comply.

The Chinese ministry issued a statement accusing the United States of “unilateralism” and “protectionism.”

“The so-called reciprocal tariffs have violated international trade rules and undermine the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties, and are a typical act of unilateral bullying,” the statement said.

“China firmly opposes the move and will take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the Chinese Commerce Ministry threatened.

At a brief press conference on Thursday, the ministry said China would respond to the tariffs by intensifying trade negotiations with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. The ministry added that “communications” with the Trump administration would continue. (Read more from “China Threatens U.S. With Retaliation if Trump Keeps Tariffs HERE)

Intel Report: China Poses Biggest Military, Cyber Threat to U.S.

/0 Comments/in , /by

China poses the biggest military and cyber threat to the U.S. as well as wider global security while it makes “steady” progress towards having the ability to invade Taiwan, a U.S. intelligence report warned Tuesday.

Beijing has the ability to hit the United States with conventional weapons; compromise U.S. infrastructure through cyber attacks; and target its assets in space, the Annual Threat Assessment by the intelligence community said, adding the Communist dictatorship also seeks to displace the United States as the top AI power by 2030.

AFP reports Beijing’s “coercive pressure” against Taiwan and “wide-ranging cyber operations against US targets” flag its growing threat to U.S. national security, according to the assessment.

“China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat to U.S. national security,” the report said.

The report provides an overview of the collective insights of top U.S. intelligence agencies about the security threats to the U.S. posed by foreign nations and criminal organizations, the AFP report notes. (Read more from “Intel Report: China Poses Biggest Military, Cyber Threat to U.S.” HERE)