Cory Combs

We're still working through everything for clients, but I'll be posting more on the issue soon. Thoughts/questions? Be in touch.

(For industry folks: yes, these materials have more uses -- ~70 that we track internally -- but these are top econ, security, and political concerns.)

05.02.2025 13:28 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

3/5: Bismuth (including powders, blocks, and other forms) – an alloying agent, among its other niche industrial purposes
4/5: Molybdenum (including alloys) – used in various "superalloys"
5/5: Indium (including semiconductor material InP) – key to many (including high-end and strategic) electronics

05.02.2025 13:28 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

1/5: Tungsten (including tungsten oxide, tungsten carbide, and myriad solid tungsten products) – the basis of some of the world's strongest metals
2/5: Tellurium (including industrial alloys) – used in semiconductors and steel

05.02.2025 13:28 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

China has just issued arguably its most significant critical #mineral #export controls yet. (Quite an eventful return from the Lunar New Year break!)

In short, using the dual-use export control list, #China will now require export licenses for the key products of:

05.02.2025 13:28 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Many thanks to those who have been checking in on us amid the fires in LA. We are just over the 405 from the Palisades fire; we're packed and ready in case the highway fails as a fire break.

Our hearts go out to all those affected. Fingers crossed that everyone currently unaffected remains so.

11.01.2025 07:15 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

China's initial, country-agnostic controls were a message saying "don't test us", @coryjcombs.bsky.social told me. As well as a political signal, he said, their main aim was to improve China’s understanding of how the minerals it processed were being used

10.12.2024 16:36 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0

Monthly exports from China of selected types of gallium, germanium, graphite and antimony between January 2023 and October 2023, compared to the average total monthly exports in 2022. The red line indicates when the initial export controls came into effect, excluding the US-specific controls announced in December 2024. Source: General Administration of Customs China, with analysis by Carbon Brief.

NEW – Q&A: What could a US-China trade war mean for the energy transition? | @_AN_Patel w/ comment from @coryjcombs.bsky.social , Tony Alderson, John Johnson

Read here ➡️ https://buff.ly/3OMszQa

10.12.2024 15:48 — 👍 9    🔁 7    💬 1    📌 0

Like other analysts, we're skeptical of Beijing's current international enforcement capabilities -- but Beijing will invest in developing them moving forward.

09.12.2024 18:02 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

2) The ban's extra-territorial application sets a new precedent and trajectory for export controls.
- Beijing aims to prevent domestic firms from seeking loopholes, including re-exports via third countries.
- But it also sends a warning to US trading partners not to circumvent Chinese controls.

09.12.2024 18:02 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

1) The clampdown is both an escalation from prior retaliation and a strategically measured response:
- Escalatory in shifting from licensing requirements to outright blocks
- Measured in that it maintains current scope, hitting back at tech companies rather than expanding into broader trade measures

09.12.2024 18:02 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

China Sets Precedent by Banning Others From Selling Goods to US Beijing has set out to extend its domestic laws across international borders with a ban on selling some goods to the US that applies to companies both inside and outside China.

Last week I spoke with @bloomberg.com about China's ban on select critical mineral exports to the US.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Key takeaways:

09.12.2024 18:02 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Climate folks, China watchers, industrial policy nerds, all: I'm finally on Bluesky! The good vibes over here are encouraging. After dropping off of X last year, I look forward to being more active here moving forward.

First up this week: critical mineral export controls! Recent quotes coming soon.

09.12.2024 14:17 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0