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.
As a known .ml hater, nah man — they’re right. What you’re suggesting is extremely hypocritical. Do you realize how much better the U.S.’ current circumstances would be if instead of offshoring all of our factories we 1) held them to stronger environmental safety standards 2) didn’t fucking close them. Actually, the world would likely be much better off.
We’re in this mess because a shitload of people have willfully ignored the real cost of having their supermarket packed with meat 100% of the time, no exceptions. The real cost, 17.42 megatonnes of Co2 in 2022, from iPhone production alone. The real cost of their freedoms being paid for in blood and sweat from Chinese/Indian and 3rd world sweatshops.
So, yes, if we’re unwilling to shoulder environmental and labour burdens for our products — we should not have those products.