, Columnist
China’s Weaponization of Rare Earths Is Bound to Backfire
Beijing’s past attempts to cut off supply have only given rise to alternative sources. Limiting access to the technology that refines these metals is even more misguided.
Unthreatening.
Photographer: Nelson Ching/Bloomberg
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There was a time when China could cause the world to tremble by threatening its supply of rare earths. It’s long in the past.
That’s reason not to worry too much about news that Beijing is planning to ban exports of technology for refining the suite of minor metals. Such a move, if taken, is likely to backfire even more spectacularly than its previous attempts to weaponize the trade in rare earths itself.