China Considering Cuts In Rare-Earth Metal Exports

Posted by kdawson on Wednesday September 9, 2009 @12:17AM from the thulium-and-thalium dept.

SillySnake sends in a report from the Telegraph on draft plans in China to restrict exports of rare earths. "Beijing is drawing up plans to prohibit or restrict exports of rare earth metals that are produced only in China and play a vital role in cutting edge technology, from hybrid cars and catalytic converters, to superconductors, and precision-guided weapons. A draft report by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has called for a total ban on foreign shipments of terbium, dysprosium, yttrium, thulium, and lutetium. Other metals such as neodymium, europium, cerium, and lanthanum will be restricted to a combined export quota of 35,000 tonnes a year, far below global needs."

5 of 456 comments (clear)

Update by Dingadong · 2009-09-09 00:21 · Score: 4, Funny

Terrorists found in Beijing and Shanghai, U.S. Troops invade.
1. Re:Update by 4D6963 · 2009-09-09 00:46 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  China is the new economy. Western Europe is just on a downhill spiral.
  No. We are Willie Wonka. China is the Oompa Loompas.
  
  --
  You just got troll'd!
Space Exploration Curtailed by Benson+Arizona · 2009-09-09 00:24 · Score: 3, Funny

Let's hope that they don't stop dilithium shipments!
Re:Not a Great Analogy by hany · 2009-09-09 01:25 · Score: 4, Funny

Or alternatively we buy our hard drives from Chinese manufacturers, which I think is what they want to happen..
... and "mine" those Chinese hard-drives for this rare materials to manufacture our own hard drives. :)

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hany
Re:The new "oil" by xerxesVII · 2009-09-09 01:47 · Score: 5, Funny

Muslims?

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