Trade Wars XXI

Neodymium is one of 17 metals crucial to green technology. There’s only one snag – China produces 97% of the world’s supply. And they’re not selling

Britain and other Western countries risk running out of supplies of certain highly sought-after rare metals that are vital to a host of green technologies, amid growing evidence that China, which has a monopoly on global production, is set to choke off exports of valuable compounds.
The Independent


If you thought getting rich and poor countries to sit down at the same table to negotiate a new climate treaty was hell, just wait till the green trade wars begin. European and U.S. lawmakers are weighing bills to impose taxes on trade partners who fail to reduce their carbon footprint. These border tax adjustments are meant to eliminate the unfair trade advantage gained when states skimp on cutting greenhouse gases--and then sell to nations with costlier controls.

(...)Never mind that the U.N. Climate Convention expressly prohibits "arbitrary or unjustified mitigation measures that could affect international trade."
Newsweek