China Bans Rare Mineral Exports to the U.S.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The move escalates supply chain warfare and comes a day after the Biden administration expanded curbs on the sale of advanced American technology to China.

China said on Tuesday that it would begin banning the export of several rare minerals to the United States, an escalation of the tech war between the world’s two biggest powers. The move comes a day after the Biden administration tightened Chinese access to advanced American technology.

The ban signals Beijing’s willingness to engage in supply chain warfare by blocking the export of important components used to make valuable products, like weaponry and semiconductors.

Sales of gallium, germanium, antimony and so-called superhard materials to the United States would be halted immediately on the grounds that they have dual military and civilian uses, China’s Ministry of Commerce said. The export of graphite would also be subject to stricter review.

China is central to many global supply chains, but it generally refrained from clamping down on its own exports during the first Trump administration, preferring instead to take more limited actions like buying soybeans from Brazil instead of the United States. But senior Chinese officials are worried that President-elect Donald J. Trump plans more stringent policies during his coming term in office. » | David Pierson, Keith Bradsher and Ana Swanson | David Pierson reported from Hong Kong, Keith Bradsher from Beijing and Ana Swanson from Washington. | Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Trump had better start reassessing his tariff policies before he re-enters the White House in January. If he doesn’t, he will surely be facing humiliation and an embarrassing stand-down. There is no way that the USA can compete with China when it comes to trade. The sheer size of the country of China, its population, its far cheaper labour, and its abundance of natural resources mean that the odds are stacked in China’s favour. Mr Trump: Be wise! Get back to the drawing board! Your policies need to be re-assessed. – © Mark Alexander

Krise in der Innenstadt: Wie Shopping-Meilen zur Geisterstadt werden I Zur Sache! Baden-Württemberg

Nov 29, 2024 | Früher kamen selbst Tübinger und Metzinger zum Shoppen nach Reutlingen. Heute zeigt sich ein anderes Bild: Leere Straßen, verwaiste Geschäfte und der nächste Rückschlag steht bevor. Nach der Schließung von Galeria Kaufhof Anfang des Jahres verabschiedet sich auch „Breuninger“. Droht der Innenstadt eine Abwärtsspirale? Auch in Vaihingen-Enz sieht es düster aus: Das letzte Sportgeschäft hat geschlossen, und viele Bürger ziehen es vor, ihre Einkäufe in den großen Märkten am Stadtrand zu erledigen. Nicht nur hier verlieren die Innenstädte an Attraktivität. Sind die glanzvollen Zeiten endgültig vorbei?

Elon Musk Hints He Could Buy MSNBC News Network

Dec 3, 2024 | "His followers are saying wouldn't it be great if Elon took this more moderate news channel in the US and built it into his own vision."

Elon Musk has suggested he would buy MSNBC after Comcast separated the newscaster from it's main channels, however, it's not for sale, Will Guyatt tells Times Radio.

Global Capitalism: The US Election and Trump 2.0 in Historical Perspective | November 2024

Nov 21, 2024

Le Royaume-Uni devra-t-il choisir son camp entre les Etats-Unis et l'Europe? | Géopolitis

Nov 29, 2024 | Cinq ans après le Brexit, le Royaume-Uni sera-t-il contraint de choisir un camp? Le pays renégocie sa relation avec l'Union européenne et mise sur sa "relation spéciale" avec les Etats-Unis, alors que Donald Trump promet d'engager une guerre commerciale notamment avec l'Europe. …

This Is What Always Happens before a Superpower Falls | Richard Wolff

Dec 2, 2024 | Richard D. Wolff is an American economist and professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is known for his critiques of economic inequality and his advocacy for worker cooperatives as a way to empower individuals and address systemic issues within the economy. Through his books, lectures, and public appearances, Wolff explores topics such as economic democracy and alternative economic models.

Hayes: Remember the Last Time a Country Fooled around and Found Out?

Nov 28, 2024 | “Just like the Tories and Liz Truss in London two years ago, Donald Trump told us what he plans to do. And just like then, the critics have said what the devastating results will be. Now we are about to enter the ‘finding out’ phase of the story,” says Chris Hayes on Trump’s economic plans.

These politicians are a sick, sick joke, aren't they? They don't know their ars** from their elbows! – © Mark Alexander

Trump’s Tariffs Will 'Completely Wreck' European Economies

Nov 30, 2024 | “There's a real question as to whether or not Europe is facing another Eurozone crisis.”

Nina dos Santos says Trump’s double-digit tariffs, which would “completely wreck” Germany and France’s economies, could spiral the EU closer to a Eurozone crisis.