Subject: China Halts Critical Exports
China continues to outsmart Mad King Donald.

China has suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, threatening to choke off supplies of components central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.

Shipments of the magnets, essential for assembling everything from cars and drones to robots and missiles, have been halted at many Chinese ports while the Chinese government drafts a new regulatory system. Once in place, the new system could permanently prevent supplies from reaching certain companies, including American military contractors.

On April 4, China ordered restrictions on the export of six heavy rare earth metals, which are refined entirely in China, as well as rare earth magnets, 90 percent of which are produced in China.

Heavy rare earth metals are crucial components in the motors of electric cars, drones, robots, missiles and spacecraft -- even gasoline-powered cars.

China is playing chess. Mad King Donald is playing checkers.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/0...