This is a great piece on the position of China in the world.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-thomas-friedman.html?unlocked_article_code=1._04.p3w7.wY7Hwll-_sjd&smid=url-share

I'm listening to the full podcast now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As dumb as this trade war is maybe we could have won it if we had allies. We made enemies out of Canada, Mexico and Europe, regardless of one’s political affiliation how can we survive with this level of stupidity?

I doubt we've made enemies out of them. They are, however, now well-aware that the U.S. isn't going to be a predictable market for their goods at low tariff rates unless they offer the same for American goods. Likewise, protectionist strategies for local industries will have to be reconsidered.

In what world haven't we made enemies of them. You think old Dumb F running his mouth about turning Canada into a state has endeared us to Canada? You think next time we need help fighting fires in California, Canadians are going to risk their lives to pitch in?

Next thing you're going to tell me how all this has only enhanced our relationship with Denmark.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting the excerpt. Xi is demonstrating the limited use of Trump's tariffs. By blocking exports, he is re-raising Trump's tariffs to infinity, and showing how the 145% tariff is hurting the US more than China. Someone posted in another thread about how resolute Xi is. His citizens could love him or detest him, but we will never know because they are too scared to say anything. A citizen complained about a parking ticket and got arrested.

These elements are available elsewhere, including the US in shuttered mines, but China owns at least 80% of the processing, so they basically own the supply chain.

His citizens are too busy online spilling the secrets on all the luxury brands. They are showing the factories where the "Made in Italy" Gucci labels are actually made and applied in their Chinese factories. They are telling and showing the US how to buy directly from Chinese factories, and even with the tariffs, save because they will declare the price of the good as pennies. 145% tariff isn't a lot when the price of the good is declared at $0.79 - and that's what China is showing the Americans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting the excerpt. Xi is demonstrating the limited use of Trump's tariffs. By blocking exports, he is re-raising Trump's tariffs to infinity, and showing how the 145% tariff is hurting the US more than China. Someone posted in another thread about how resolute Xi is. His citizens could love him or detest him, but we will never know because they are too scared to say anything. A citizen complained about a parking ticket and got arrested.

These elements are available elsewhere, including the US in shuttered mines, but China owns at least 80% of the processing, so they basically own the supply chain.

Since T-Boy seems to have aggravtaed the rest of the world, not many will be inclined to facilitate his battle with China. And ourt shuttered mines? How many years to make them productive again?

Zero years:

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/rare-earth-elements-mine-tailings/story?id=19739320

Anonymous wrote:In 2012, President Obama sued China in the WTO when China last tried this illegal stunt:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earths_trade_dispute

China lost in the WTO. They are not allowed to restrict rare earths.

But, even if they are, we have been preparing for this since 2012, which is more than a decade ago.

We can exploit lots of other sources. Recycling, for one.

Plus, the scrap heaps from old US mines are chock full of rare earths, free for the taking right here.

Exactly. Fake crisis.

Here is the proof the hysteria is fake:

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/rare-earth-elements-mine-tailings/story?id=19739320

In 2012, President Obama sued China in the WTO when China last tried this illegal stunt:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earths_trade_dispute

China lost in the WTO. They are not allowed to restrict rare earths.

But, even if they are, we have been preparing for this since 2012, which is more than a decade ago.

We can exploit lots of other sources. Recycling, for one.

Plus, the scrap heaps from old US mines are chock full of rare earths, free for the taking right here.

This was an inevitable result. What do you think China was doing with its belt and roads program?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now FDA might not have enough employees anymore so who knows what .

Be prepared to get sick. Just read an article about how Trump is pushing Britain and the EU to buy our chicken, but they say it’s disgusting. Thru don’t have to disclose what chemicals were used in preservation, which should worry Americans. Be prepared for fake food—to not know what you’re eating.

I have to admit, the meat in France and Spain tastes so much better than the chicken and pork sold in the USA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he went for nuclear option really fast.
I thought he was going to use rare earth minerals and antibiotics as last resort.

Antibiotics??

China controls 70% global rare earth minerals and 90% processing.
China produces 90% of US antibiotics ( eg, Penicillin) and 40-50% of generic drug ingredients (APIs)
Medical Devices ( gloves, syringes, MRI components)

And WHY is that? Is it wrong to try and on-shore those manufacturing activities?

Covid-19 taught us that we can't be dependent on China, and yet those who oppose tariffs seem to have forgotten this.

It is not wrong to want to onshore some of this. Strategically, it is a wise move. But the way he is doing it will create a shortage and a shock to the system. We should want to mine and process our own critical minerals, but we have to set up the infrastructure, not freeze funding for critical mineral research (which is what Trump did).

This is basically the crux of all of us who are in disbelief over what Trump is doing economically. You just don't throw everything up against the wall to see what sticks! You don't change everything in a heartbeat. You prioritize, you prep, you research and you plan. WTF are people thinking supporting all this crap he's dishing out? It's not even about whether it's right or wrong (and actually I agree with his goals being noble to be more self sufficient as a country which is about improving ourselves as a country) but his actions are 1000000% wrong. It's his approach that determines results and this is going to see us sink on all fronts - economically, politically, public relations wise and however and any way you want to spin it. He is adding insult to injury in that he's taking down not just the US about the world with us to boot with these trade wars!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he went for nuclear option really fast.
I thought he was going to use rare earth minerals and antibiotics as last resort.

Antibiotics??

China controls 70% global rare earth minerals and 90% processing.
China produces 90% of US antibiotics ( eg, Penicillin) and 40-50% of generic drug ingredients (APIs)
Medical Devices ( gloves, syringes, MRI components)

And WHY is that? Is it wrong to try and on-shore those manufacturing activities?

Covid-19 taught us that we can't be dependent on China, and yet those who oppose tariffs seem to have forgotten this.

It is not wrong to want to onshore some of this. Strategically, it is a wise move. But the way he is doing it will create a shortage and a shock to the system. We should want to mine and process our own critical minerals, but we have to set up the infrastructure, not freeze funding for critical mineral research (which is what Trump did).

Anonymous wrote:Now FDA might not have enough employees anymore so who knows what .

Be prepared to get sick. Just read an article about how Trump is pushing Britain and the EU to buy our chicken, but they say it’s disgusting. Thru don’t have to disclose what chemicals were used in preservation, which should worry Americans. Be prepared for fake food—to not know what you’re eating.

Now FDA might not have enough employees anymore so who knows what .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he went for nuclear option really fast.
I thought he was going to use rare earth minerals and antibiotics as last resort.

Antibiotics??

China controls 70% global rare earth minerals and 90% processing.
China produces 90% of US antibiotics ( eg, Penicillin) and 40-50% of generic drug ingredients (APIs)
Medical Devices ( gloves, syringes, MRI components)

NIH has banned all antibiotics and drugs. So too bad China!

Some and it’s FDA.

Anonymous wrote:China has now suspended all purchases of US beef (Australia and Brazil are cheering) and the purchase of all Boeing aircraft and parts (the EU and Brazil is cheering).

I guess the whole exercise is to make Brazil great again?

Should I expect cheaper beef prices now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he went for nuclear option really fast.
I thought he was going to use rare earth minerals and antibiotics as last resort.

Antibiotics??

China controls 70% global rare earth minerals and 90% processing.
China produces 90% of US antibiotics ( eg, Penicillin) and 40-50% of generic drug ingredients (APIs)
Medical Devices ( gloves, syringes, MRI components)

And WHY is that? Is it wrong to try and on-shore those manufacturing activities?

Covid-19 taught us that we can't be dependent on China, and yet those who oppose tariffs seem to have forgotten this.

Both Biden and Trump have tried to advance the development of us rare earth mining and processing - Biden came from more of a green energy standpoint and Trump from more of a military might standpoint, but both acknowledged that China wielded too much power with their dominance.

https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2020-11-24_R46618_6639173333b5877128b3af8449e1c1d88a16f327.pdf

Biden signed an EO to examine the industry in Jan 2020 and encouraged business to put in $120 billion in development.

https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/20/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-further-action-to-strengthen-and-secure-critical-mineral-supply-chains/

And this is the way to do it -
Trump v1 and Biden encouraged investment in industry and we will see some results, but it takes many years. Punitive tariffs do not build processors and mines. Grants and subsidies do that. And that is the one of the biggest criticism of trump’s approach right now, on both sides of the aisle.

So, as usual, Trump went about something in the dumbest and most childish way possible?

I’m shocked.