Unhedged Rare earth quake
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Oct 16, 2025 China's export restrictions on rare earths shake markets and raise questions about their strategic value. The hosts debate whether this move is a tactical ploy ahead of APEC talks and how it impacts Trump's tariff strategies. They explore the sustainability of China's dominance in rare earth production and the practical challenges facing Western supply expansion. The conversation lightens up with a fun Long/Short segment discussing Strava, protein culture, and ESG trends.
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Element Name Game Sets The Scene
- The hosts played a game guessing which element names were real rare earths to introduce the topic.
- They revealed lutetium, terbium and praseodymium are real and explained their uses in magnets, displays and medicine.
China Controls Processing, Not Just Mines
- China dominates not just rare earth mining but especially the processing step, giving it disproportionate leverage.
- Processing tolerance for pollution allowed China to build a near-monopoly on the supply chain.
Rare Earths Are A Strategic Bargaining Chip
- China can use export controls and stockpiles of rare earths as a diplomatic and economic bargaining chip.
- The US legitimately needs these materials, creating real leverage for China in a US-China standoff.