China Bans Export of Rare Earths Tech
On Thursday, China introduced a ban on the export of key technologies used to process rare earth elements — a group of 17 metals that are used to manufacture the magnets that are found in many high-technology devices.
Facts
- On Thursday, China introduced a ban on the export of key technologies used to process rare earth elements — a group of 17 metals that are used to manufacture the magnets that are found in many high-technology devices.1
- The ban — which Beijing said is an effort to protect national security — is the latest action China has taken against the export of various metals, with restrictions on gallium and germanium introduced this summer. It also implemented export permits on several graphite products earlier this month.2
- China makes 90% of the world's rare-earth permanent magnets. These are used to make wind turbines, EV hard disks, and smartphones, besides being used by the military. It also accounts for 60% of rare earth mining and 85% of its processing.3
- While they won't affect the export of rare-earth products themselves, some experts have predicted that Beijing's new restrictions could scuttle efforts to build a rare-earths industries outside of China.4
- Beijing's ban comes amid attempts by its geopolitical rivals, especially in the West, to reduce their reliance on rare earths from China, with measures to promote domestic supply included in US Pres. Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.5
Sources: 1Moneycontrol, 2Reuters, 3UnHerd, 4WION and 5BNN.
Narratives
- Anti-China narrative, as provided by Deccan Herald. China is flexing its rare-earths muscle. The country has rarely shied away from leveraging its strengths toward its foreign policy or geostrategic goals. The communist nation dreams of dominating the global technosphere and It is now weaponizing rare earths to materialize that dream.
- Pro-China narrative, as provided by China Daily. There's no doubt that the rare-earths industry is an extremely polluting one. Over the years, China has borne the burden of meeting the world's demand for these important minerals — something the developed world is used to as it enjoys the fruits of the less developed world's dirty work. Rather than accusing Beijing of weaponizing rare earths, the West should acknowledge that this is its own making.
