"Rare earths are extremely valuable metallic elements that are not only found in smartphones and electric cars, but also in weapons. Among other things, they are used in the construction of fighter jets and submarines. In addition, rare earths are found in specially hardened ammunition and armored vehicles, in propulsion systems and sensor technology. More than 400 kilos of rare earths are used in one F-35 stealth bomber alone."
"The lion's share of the rare earths processed in Germany comes from China, and this is precisely where the problem lies: As a result of the tariffs dispute with the US, Beijing announced at the beginning of October that it would once again drastically tighten its already strict export rules. China threatened to stop exporting rare earths needed for military purposes. Moreover, companies applying in China to export materials are now required to submit detailed information, some of which is confidential."
""The end-use clauses, the high bureaucratic hurdles and the access into supply planning are basically nothing but industrial espionage," Jakob Kullik, political scientist at the Chemnitz University of Technology, told DW. The Federation of German Industries (BDI) is also critical: "The new rules can be seen as a direct attack on the rearmament of the West," it said in a statement."
Rare earths enable a wide range of civilian and military technologies, including smartphones, electric cars, fighter jets, submarines, hardened ammunition, armored vehicles, propulsion systems, and sensors. More than 400 kilos of rare earths are used in a single F-35 stealth bomber. Germany depends heavily on Chinese-processed rare earths. China tightened export rules amid a tariffs dispute with the US and threatened to stop exports needed for military purposes. Export applicants must now provide detailed and sometimes confidential information. Arms manufacturers characterize certain end-use clauses and access to supply planning as industrial espionage. Industry officials report no panic.
Read at www.dw.com
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