It's the economy, stupid.

[GoCubsGo]

Whatever happened to this guy? He's sorta disappeared.

[Whack9]

Automakers Race to Find Workaround to China’s Stranglehold on Rare-Earth Magnets

https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/car- ... e-aaf87ad2

Four major automakers are racing to find workarounds to China’s stranglehold on rare-earth magnets, which they fear could force them to shut down some car production within weeks.

Several traditional and electric-vehicle makers—and their suppliers—are considering shifting some auto-parts manufacturing to China to avoid looming factory shutdowns, people familiar with the situation said.

Ideas under review include producing electric motors in Chinese factories or shipping made-in-America motors to China to have magnets installed. Moving production to China as a way to get around the export controls on rare-earth magnets could work because the restrictions only cover magnets, not finished parts, the people said.

...

China was supposed to have eased export controls on rare-earth magnets as part of a 90-day tariff truce agreement with the White House, but the country has slow walked license approvals for magnets. Trump accused China of violating its deal with the U.S. China has pushed back at the notion that it was to blame, alleging “discriminatory and restrictive measures” by Washington, including restricting exports of AI chips and revoking visas for Chinese students.

China banned exports of rare earth minerals to the US in response to the trade war initiated by Trump. In all fairness, probably not good to be so reliant on one entity for such minerals.

[GoCubsGo]

Was reading yesterday how common and or widespread rare earth's have become in so many car components, even things like anti lock breaks.

[1 CAT FAN]

China banned exports of rare earth minerals to the US in response to the trade war initiated by Trump. In all fairness, probably not good to be so reliant on one entity for such minerals.

There ya go.

[GoCubsGo]

Well damn!

[Vrede too]

https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/1913300944500211808

Part of Trump's 4D chess master plan, no doubt. Just to trigger the libs.

I get it now.
BB Bill iffy in the Senate, in real trouble when it returns to the House.
Elon leaves with heaps of praise and a useless golden key.
Elon attacks the BB Bill with some pretty harsh language right out of the gate.
Opponents of the BB Bill are encouraged.
DonOLD stays calm at first.
Elon does a nutty attacking the BB Bill and DonOLD.
DonOLD responds firmly, but still fairly calmly.
Elon goes completely off the deep end, loses credibility.
RepuQs circle the wagons around DonOLD.
Senators and Reps who might have opposed the BB Bill are now afraid to be seen as allied with Crazy Elon.
Dems are reeling from this insanity, are ineffective.
The BB Bill clears Congress with nearly unanimous GQP support.
DonOLD signs the BB Bill triumphantly.
Elon walks away, he was done with government anyhow.
Musk companies continue rolling in the taxpayer dough.
Our national wealth has been again forked over to the oligarchs, including Elon.

4D chess. Libs lose, again.