• Awoo [she/her]@hexbear.net
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    1 day ago

    Beijing also unveiled fresh export controls on rare metals and chemicals including tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, and molybdenum, used in a range of industrial appliances.

    • China produces 80% of world supply of Tungsten. 70% of all Tungsten is used for drills, lathes and saws. The rest is used in munitions and electronics (the semiconductor electronics).

    • China produces two thirds of global Tellurium. It is used in semiconductors for cutting edge AI chips. The US has been weaning itself off reliance on imports for this. They had 95% reliance on imports in 2019 but have 25% reliance on imports in 2023. This is being hit because of semiconductors.

    • China produces like 95%+ of the world’s Bismuth. It is used in alloys used in electronics and semiconductors.

    • China produces a third of global molybdenum supply. Is is again used in alloys necessary for this process.

    Analysis: China are trying to slow America’s ability to set up a proper semiconductor industry.

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmygrad.mlOP
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      1 day ago

      China is committed to using renewable and clean energy for everything. Putting tariffs on the dirty energy sources, not only are they sticking the USA in the gut, they’re also accelerating the switch-over to clean energy by making dirty energy sources expensive. I think this is an absolute win for China.

      • joaomarrom [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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        1 day ago

        I think so too, and I read somewhere that US tariffs on Taiwan are also largely helpful towards China’s goal of boosting their internal consumer market. It seems Xi has once again completely failed to stop winning.