Excellent! China's Rare Earth Grip: A Burnsian Perspective on Global Dominance

Release the Hounds...and the Export Licenses!

Bah! So China deigns to release a *few* export licenses for their precious rare earths does it? Like tossing a bone to a pack of mangy dogs! Three Shenzhen listed companies who I assume are all loyal party members get the go ahead. But mark my words this is just a temporary reprieve. A distraction like Smithers trying to get me to eat my vegetables! The firm Baotou INST Magnetic New Materials is only allowed one shipment! One! As I always say 'If you want something done right do it yourself.' Of course I would never involve myself in such petty trading.

Europe's Rare Earth Fiasco: A Symphony of Incompetence!

Those European automakers bleating about shortages! Why they should be grateful for any scraps China throws their way. 'Long term' export licenses that last a measly six months? That's barely enough time to install a decent air conditioning system let alone build a car. Honestly it's like watching a colony of ants try to move a mountain. Utterly futile! They should just hand over their industries to me and I'll sort it all out. Profitably of course.

The West's Recycling Efforts: A Pathetic Attempt!

Recycling rare earths? Good heavens what a tedious process! It's like trying to squeeze blood from a stone...or in this case a slightly used magnet. While it may seem like 'an adequate workforce at reasonable rates,' I can assure you it is not. The article states that at best this is a limited long term solution and this is a gross understatement. The West simply doesn't have the reserves to compete. They're just a bunch of Milhouses playing in a Mr. Burns's world!

Halting Production? Poppycock!

European automakers and U.S. high tech businesses halting production? A load of poppycock! They need to toughen up just like I toughened up my employees. Why back in my day if we ran out of a vital resource we simply substituted it with… well something equally as dreadful. As a result the product will inevitably be dreadful as well. They should've simply learned from the Great Depression which ended when I finally declared it was over!

China's Permanent Control: An Ever Present Threat!

Dennis Wilder is right on the money China will likely keep up its restrictions on rare earths to deter Washington from ratcheting up restrictions on high tech exports to China. China will most likely keep the licensing regime "permanent" to deter stockpiling of the critical mineral by U.S. firms and ensure its negotiating leverage remains undiminished. As I said 'In a word yes.'!

Diversification: A Fool's Errand!

Investing in alternative sources? Developing substitutes? Rerouting exports? All a fool's errand! China controls the vast majority of the supply chain. Trying to break free is like trying to escape my iron grip… impossible! Automakers developing electric vehicles with little to no rare earth content? Now that is a plan so devious and unexpected that it would almost work... if it weren't for my plan to buy every single share of electric vehicle stock so that my investment will increase dramatically in value!