Javier Blas on China's Rare Earths Dominance

Odd Lots

Bloomberg

News, Investing, Business, News Commentary, Business News

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Every time there is tension between the US and China, there are stories about China threatening to withhold exports of rare earth metals, which are supposedly crucial for all kinds of advanced technologies. In this episode, recorded in Bloomberg's London studio, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Javier Blas helps us clear up some misconceptions about them. For one thing, rare earths aren't actually that rare. Furthermore, the amount of global trade of these minerals is fairly minuscule. The US only imports $170 million worth in a year. And then beyond that, the most common usage of them is in vacuum cleaners. Still, their economics are interesting and they do have some important applications. In addition, we talk about what the trade war means for the domestic US energy agenda, and the Trump administration's desire to expand total output.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	KPMG makes the difference by creating value, like developing strategic insights that help drive M&A success, or embedding AI solutions into your business to sustain competitive advantage.
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0:22.2	Is this a negotiation or the new rules at a game?
0:24.8	It could be either.
0:25.8	It is up to the president how he wants to negotiate.
0:28.7	A deal is going to be made with China.
0:30.4	Nothing's over yet.
0:31.4	There's been a lot of confusion up to now.
0:33.2	A 90-day pause is not an eradication.
0:35.8	Where is this leading to?
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0:54.8	Bloomberg Audio Studios.
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1:09.8	Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Odd Lots podcast. I'm Jill Wisenthal.
1:14.7	And I'm Tracy Allaway.
1:15.8	Tracy, we're in London.
1:17.3	Yes. How do you like it?
1:19.0	I love it so far. I'm having a great time.
1:20.7	You know what I've realized? I always make the mistake. So I lived in London for a long time.
	...

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