#export ban

[thoughtlessarse]

China has found Trump's pain point - rare earths

China holds a near-monopoly in the processing of the elements crucial for making everything from smartphones to fighter jets.

Last week, China's Ministry of Commerce published a document that went by the name of "announcement No. 62 of 2025". But this wasn't just any bureaucratic missive. It has rocked the fragile tariffs truce with the US. The announcement detailed sweeping new curbs on its rare earth exports, in a move that tightens Beijing's grip on the global supply of the critical minerals - and reminded Donald Trump just how much leverage China holds in the trade war. China has a near-monopoly in the processing of rare earths - crucial for the production of everything from smartphones to fighter jets. Under the new rules, foreign companies now need the Chinese government's approval to export products that contain even a tiny amount of rare earths and must declare their intended use. In response, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods and put export controls on key software. "This is China versus the world. They have pointed a bazooka at the supply chains and the industrial base of the entire free world, and we're not going to have it," said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. On Thursday, China said the US had "deliberately provoked unnecessary misunderstanding and panic" over the rare earths restrictions. "Provided the export licence applications are compliant and intended for civilian use, they will be approved," a commerce ministry spokesperson added. This week, the world's two biggest economies also imposed new port fees on each other's ships.

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As if the US didn't point a bazooka at supply chains and the industrial base of the entire world with Trump's tariffs. I can't see why the US would be angry, after all, Trump said trade wars are easy to win. I wonder if he's tired of winning, yet.

[upscmagazine]

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

Exclusive: EU Says A Post-Brexit Shellfish Export Ban Is Indefinite, After Government Claimed It Was Only Temporary

The European Union has told the UK shellfish industry that thousands of tonnes of oyster, mussel, clam, cockle and scallop exports are banned from ...

Remember how Brexit was going to save our fishermen?

This will destroy livelihoods.

[indizombie]

It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the US intelligence services are defending their SIGINT turf without due consideration for US strategic interests. The China hawks, e.g. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) , have demanded that Trump maintain America’s ban on the shipment of electronic components and software to Huawei. But this may have baleful consequences for American interests. A glaring example is the threat to deny Huawei access to updates of Google’s Android operating system, used by Huawei’s mobile handsets. In response, Huawei will introduce its own mobile operating system to compete with Android. Long under development, the decision to launch an alternative to Android was accelerated by the prospect of an export ban. China buys 400 million handsets a year, and its market is big enough to persuade developers to rewrite most of the 1.7 million native Android apps for its own operating system. At that point consumers around the world will be able to choose between Google’s system and Huawei’s with no loss of functionality. There are enough governments in the world, including in Europe, with a grudge against Google to give Huawei a critical advantage in important markets.

Spengler, 'US-China tech war and the US intelligence community', Asia Times

[akatsuki-shin]

Original Article: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-14/cdjapan-avex-pictures-restricts-overseas-bd-dvd-cd-shipments/.112232 No, it's not just about Yuri on Ice or Osomatsu, it's about all titles under Avex Pictures. Based on the information I've found so far (in Twitter, etc) Avex's BD/DVD/CD won't be available in other websites, as well, like CD Japan, Ami Ami, etc (CMIIW). I'm pretty much a beginner to topics like this, so I don't understand why they would do this. Is it because foreign licensors want to protect their business (by making people unable to buy directly from Japan)? Is it to protect their stuffs from piracy? If anyone knows the reason behind this, I would really like to know. I have never bought BD/DVD from Japan, but I did buy a couple of CDs; some of those are under Avex. It's twice the original price do to shipping, but me and many other people in my country (Indonesia) still buy these stuffs, among others because: - We like the series, so we want to have it - It feels good to be able to support the creators even if we're not in Japan I know there are legal streaming websites available, but I don't know if Funimation, Cruncyroll and the likes also provide services where we can get the physical BD/DVD/CD. And even if they do, I don't know whether the service is limited to certain countries or not. As for piracy protection, maybe it's just me, but I think this export ban only serves to encourage more piracy attempts. I mean, people want to get these stuffs through legal way, but the Japanese block it all of a sudden. I'm just... I don't know, I'm really disappointed to read this news, especially because I haven't found any explanation from Avex so far. Really, if anyone knows anything, please let me know. ;____;

[himitsusentaiblog]

Entertainment Label, Avex Group, Places Export Ban on All Products - The Tokusatsu Network

Publisher of Kamen Rider soundtracks and singles as well as many popular anime soundtracks and products places ban on international sales of their goods.

So, we will no longer be able to order Kamen Rider soundtracks from legit sources. Well, that sucks.  I hope they realize this just encourages international piracy all the more.

Edit: I went to CD Japan to verify this for myself and this is the message you get when you select ANY Avex product:

[amisbro]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDW2jFlhoj8) If you want my personal thoughts on the Avex Group export ban then here you go cos trust me when I tell you I am PISSED about this especially for the YOI fandom

[thoughtlessarse]

IMmediate effect: Export ban sparks rush to process lithium in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s ban on raw lithium exports is forcing Chinese miners to rethink their strategy, speeding up plans to process the metal locally instead of shipping it to China’s vast rechargeable battery industry. The country is Africa’s largest lithium producer and has one of the world’s largest reserves, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Zimbabwe already banned the export of lithium ore in 2022 and in 2025 announced it would halt exports of lithium concentrates from January 2027. But on Wednesday it imposed the ban with immediate effect, leaving unclear what the lithium mining sector will do in the short term as Zimbabwe currently has no facilities to process lithium concentrates. The move, which also included a blanket ban on export of all raw minerals, aims to capture the added value of refining and processing, thus creating jobs and additional government tax revenue. But critics say the push to refine should have come sooner, with Zimbabwe already having lost out on several years of revenues for the hard-pressed local economy. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, has spent $400 million on a processing plant that should be operational in the coming weeks, its representative Patience Chizodza told state broadcaster ZBC. It will reportedly be the first factory in Africa to refine lithium concentrate into lithium sulfate -- a powdered form that is one step closer to the product used in batteries.

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