Stock markets dropped on Trump's bellicose Truth Social post that said China is "becoming very hostile" in seeking tough export controls on rare earths.

Trump cited export controls that China imposed on rare earths from that country. Trump also threatened to cancel his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping because of the dispute.

  • Scranulum@feddit.nuEnglish
    9·
    4 days ago

    Remember when they were called “rare earth metals” before he called them “rare earths” in a demented stupor that one time. And now it’s just accepted terminology. I hate my country

    • ToastedRavioli@midwest.socialEnglish
      51·
      4 days ago

      The term “rare-earth” is a misnomer, because they are not actually scarce, but because they are only found in compounds, not as pure metals, and are difficult to isolate and purify. They are relatively plentiful in the entire Earth’s crust, but in practice they are spread thinly as trace impurities, so to obtain rare earths at usable purity requires processing enormous amounts of raw ore at great expense.

      Basically the whole thing has always been a misnomer. They arent rare, nor are they found as metal naturally. But I suppose rare earth elements or metals sounds better than “abundant but hard to find rock thingies”