July 4 (Reuters) - China has announced export restrictions on some gallium and germanium products, metals used in computer chips and other products, citing national security interests.

  • garwalut@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Here’s the thing about resource based export bans: prices will go up and as a result new producers/mines will enter the market. In time, new alternatives will be found, cost of production will go down, and china will loose its comparative advantage permanently.

  • Candelestine@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    … you’re supposed to cut access to those shortly before the war, to cause maximum headaches. If there’s a war actually soon, then they picked the dumbest timing they possibly could. The west is in a state of partially mobilized war production, in an effort to supply Ukraine.

    And US soldiers are not involved in any foreign wars for the first time in awhile. That lowers our threshold for hitting an America-fuck-yea moment significantly.

    Primary Reference: https://youtu.be/LasrD6SZkZk

    • Raphael@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      And US soldiers are not involved in any foreign wars for the first time in awhile.

      Yep, they’ve been using ukrainians as cannon fodder recently.

        • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          You literally overthrew a democratically elected government in coup in 2014 and put in a client regime that’s currently using press gangs to kidnap people off the street and send them to die. Your senator by the name of Lindsey Graham recently quipped how this war was the best money your regime ever spent. Get your emprie bs out of here.

      • andxze@reddthat.com
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        1 year ago

        They’re defending their country willingly against a foreign agressor, so how can you justify a statement like that?

        The foreign material aid they’re receiving are things they’ve both asked for and sorely need.

  • moonwalker@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Haven’t drank any coffee yet. Reading the title I thought this was going to effect the potato chip supply chain.

  • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Germanium ores are rare and most germanium is a by-product of zinc production and from coal fly ash.

    Gallium is found in trace amounts in zinc ores and in bauxite, and gallium metal is produced when processing bauxite to make aluminium.

    Can you imagine a world without zinc?

  • Raphael@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    USA: Sanctions China chip industry. China: Restricts some specific exports that affect the ship industry.

    USA: Surprised Pikachu Face