HasanAbi CHINA-US TRADE WAR ESCALATES
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Oct 14, 2025 The discussion begins with Trump's push for tariffs, exploring how these threats create market chaos. As China retaliates by restricting rare earth exports, the importance of these materials in defense is highlighted. Hasanabi examines the US's dependency on Chinese rare earths and the challenges of rapid decoupling. He contrasts centralized Chinese policies with the US's decentralized approach, revealing trade implications. The conversation also touches on the hypocrisy of export controls and advocates for prioritizing citizens' needs over profits in critical sectors.
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Tariff-First Political Strategy
- Donald Trump prioritized tariffs as a core policy and followed through aggressively during his term.
- Hasanabi argues this tariff strategy undermined U.S. trade design and benefited insiders who anticipated policy shifts.
Refinement, Not Rarity, Is The Chokepoint
- China built decades-long dominance in rare earth extraction and refining that other countries cannot match quickly.
- Hasanabi notes refinement, not ore scarcity, is the chokepoint giving China leverage in high-tech and defense supply chains.
Truce Broke Over New Export Controls
- Madrid negotiations briefly paused tit-for-tat escalation but new U.S. export controls reignited tensions.
- Hasanabi links China's rare earth measures to U.S. export-control moves that Beijing saw as a Madrid breach.