Beijing is still tightening its grip over supplies of rare earths and other key minerals despite the tariff truce, allowing it to cut off US access at will
In mid-March, customs officers in Hong Kong uncovered an unusual smuggling operation.
When the officials cracked open a 40-foot shipping container near the city’s northern border, they did not uncover stacks of illegal drugs or counterfeit goods, but more than 25 tonnes of antimony – a rare metal used to make advanced military equipment that has been subject to strict export controls in China since last year.
Weeks later, local media in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi reported a similar incident. This time, local customs officers intercepted a shipment of metal declared as soldering paste, but which lab tests later confirmed to be 55.3 per cent bismuth – another rare element placed under Chinese export controls.
Your personal data will be processed and information from your device (cookies, unique identifiers, and other device data) may be stored by, accessed by and shared with 88 TCF vendor(s) and 20 ad partner(s), or used specifically by this site or app.
