Found this on Macrobusiness 18/June/19A paywall prevents any...

Found this on Macrobusiness 18/June/19A
paywall prevents any more info.
The Communist Party of China has turned deeply irrational. We’ve seen it paint itself into a corner on a trade deal, massively overreach in Hong Kong and now it is readying to push the trade war into commodities. Via Zero Hedgeuring a Monday press conference, the Chinese NDRC said it was developing new state policies on rare earth metals, and intends to make them public as soon as possible.According to Deutsche Bank, the key conclusion from the recent meetings is that Chinese authorities are preparing to limit shipments of rare-earth permanent magnets in addition to rare-earth elements, thereby closing off what was termed an “escape route” by the Global Times. Beijing’s veiled threats to restrict exports of rare earth metals to the US have been called by many as one of China’s nuclear options in a trade conflict with Washington. The US relies on China for about 80 percent of its rare earths supplies. The metals are used in everything from electric car motors and electronics to oil refining.