Central Asia’s underground holds some of the world’s most valuable metals. Five countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—sit on vast deposits of rare earths, the minerals needed for phones, wind turbines, and fighter jets. For years, China has been the main supplier
China has quietly broadened its economic tools during a temporary pause in the U. S. trade dispute, setting up new limits on technology and supply chains before a summit next month. After leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agreed in Busan to ease tensions, Beijing moved quickly to tighten controls
Sweden dreams of becoming Europe’s green energy hub, but a giant mining project could crush that dream for some. Near Kiruna, one of the world’s largest underground iron mines, a new rare earths deposit called Per Geijer could soon open. The Swedish government wants it fast-tracked because Europe ne
China tightened rules on key minerals like gallium, germanium and neodymium in 2025‑26, saying it needed to guard national security. The U. S. and the EU reacted by bolstering stockpiles, speeding up domestic projects, and seeking new suppliers. Prices jumped, but many saw the shock as short‑term.
In a significant move, finance ministers from the G7 countries are set to gather in Washington on January 12. Their agenda? Rare earths and other critical minerals. This meeting comes at a time when these nations, except Japan, are heavily dependent on China for a wide range of materials. Rare eart
A recent proposal to set price floors on rare earth minerals might seem like a good idea to some. The goal is to push back against China's restrictions on these vital resources. However, this approach could backfire, hurting American industries and failing to change China's policies. Price controls
High-level economic representatives from the United States and China are set to meet in Kuala Lumpur to prevent a trade war from worsening. The discussions aim to ensure that the upcoming meeting between U. S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping goes smoothly. The talks, schedul
Big tech companies are making big moves. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are planning to shift most of their new product manufacturing outside of China by 2026. This is a huge deal because it shows how these companies are trying to spread their operations around the world. Microsoft, for example, is m
China's recent move to restrict rare earth exports has sparked a lot of talk. These minerals are super important for lots of tech stuff, like smartphones and electric cars. China makes most of them, so this move could really shake things up. But it might not be as big a deal as people think. At fir
China and India are trying to fix their relationship. They had a big fight in 2020. Now, they are talking again. China's foreign minister is in India. He is meeting with India's top security advisor and the prime minister. The talks are about the border between the two countries. Both sides say thi
