US proposes critical minerals trade bloc aimed at countering China

[LiberalArkie]

February 4, 2026

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday unveiled plans to marshal allies into a preferential trade bloc for critical minerals, proposing coordinated price floors as Washington escalates efforts to loosen China's grip on materials crucial to advanced manufacturing.

China has wielded its chokehold on the processing of many minerals as geo-economic leverage, at times curbing exports, suppressing prices and undercutting other countries' ability to diversify sources of the materials used to make semiconductors, electric vehicles and advanced weapons.

"We want to eliminate that problem of people flooding into our markets with cheap critical minerals to undercut our domestic manufacturers," Vance told a gathering of visiting ministers in Washington without mentioning China.

"We will establish reference prices for critical minerals at each stage of production, ... and for members of the preferential zone, these reference prices will operate as a floor maintained through adjustable tariffs to uphold pricing integrity," Vance said.

INDIA, JAPAN AMONG 55 COUNTRIES AT MEETING

Snip

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-hosts-countries-talks-weaken-chinas-grip-critical-minerals-2026-02-04/

[jls4561]

1. Why does JD think we have any allies left?

[LiberalArkie]

2. Well, Germany was a pariah back during the war, but Americans saw profit.

Really they are scared because China is the world's silver and gold refiners. China on Jan 1, 2026 put export controls on metals.

In the past US, Mexico, Venezuela and others sent their mined metals to China to have it refined. Now, if it is shipped there they can not get it back.

[jls4561]

3. Can you send me a source for more information?

[LiberalArkie]

5. This is what I saw quickly... Thousands of others out there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_collaboration_with_Nazi_Germany#:~:text=The%20accused%20companies%20include%20General%20Motors%2C%20IT%26T%2C%20and,Motor%20Company%2C%20%5B2%5D%5B3%5D%20Coca-Cola%2C%20%5B4%5D%5B5%5D%20and%20IBM.%20%5B6%5D%5B7%5D%5B8%5D

[jls4561]

7. Sorry I should have been clearer about what I was asking. Countries send their metals to China, China refines the metal

but doesn’t return it? I was not aware of this practice and would like more information.

Thank you for the information on the Nazis. More knowledge is always welcome.

[LiberalArkie]

8. China implemented export controls on Jan 1, 2026 on precious metals.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/31/china-silver-export-controls-2026-us-economy-prices-rare-earths-critical-minerals-xag-metals.html

US and a lot of countries sent all their mined silver, gold etc to China because it is a very noxious process to refine silver (refined silver is 0.9999% silver). They did not want the environmental problems doing it.

GFN – WASHINGTON: Korea Zinc plans a $7.4 billion investment to construct a large-scale non-ferrous metals smelter in Clarksville, Tennessee, a project U.S. officials say will materially expand domestic critical minerals processing capacity and strengthen supply chain security.1

https://www.scottsdalemint.com/articles/2026/u-s-secures-silver-smelter-deal-to-process-latam-metals/

[jls4561]

9. Thank you.

[canetoad]

4. You read my mind

What allies? I don't see how any self-respecting country can do business with a government headed by tsf and jd.

[LiberalArkie]

6. Uhh. the Board of Peace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_Peace