数千吨稀土被运往美国，中国身边出现“帮凶”？商务部明确表态，相关部门展开专项行动

Group 1 - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce is expediting the review of export license applications for rare earths, emphasizing the importance of maintaining global supply chain stability [1] - China has approved a certain number of compliant applications and aims to strengthen communication with relevant countries regarding export controls [1] - China holds a dominant position in the supply of critical minerals such as antimony, gallium, and germanium, which are widely used in telecommunications, semiconductors, and military technology [1] Group 2 - Recent reports indicate that a significant amount of antimony has been imported by the U.S. from Thailand and Mexico, raising suspicions about these countries acting as intermediaries [3] - A specific company in Thailand reportedly shipped 3,366 tons of antimony products to the U.S. within six months, marking a 27-fold increase year-on-year [3] - Investigations reveal that Chinese companies are disguising antimony ore as iron or zinc ore for customs clearance, subsequently routing it through Southeast Asia or Latin America to reach U.S. military production lines [3] Group 3 - In response to the exposure of smuggling channels, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has launched a special operation to combat illegal exports of strategic minerals [5] - The initiative aims to address issues such as false declarations, smuggling, and third-country transshipment, showcasing a commitment to closing regulatory loopholes [5] - The Ministry emphasizes understanding and accommodating reasonable civilian demands from other countries while ensuring compliance in export license approvals [5] Group 4 - The U.S. interest in Thailand and Mexico is attributed to their geographical proximity to China, which reduces logistics costs, and Mexico's access to the U.S. market through the USMCA [7] - Chinese enterprises are allowed to export antimony raw materials to Thailand and Mexico, where they can be processed and sold to the U.S. under a "non-Chinese origin" label, a practice not explicitly prohibited by law [7] - Following U.S. tariff threats, Thailand has made concessions and submitted a new trade proposal to the U.S. to avoid high tariffs on its exports [7] Group 5 - After Thailand's proposal submission, the U.S. announced a 36% tariff on Thai goods, which has been met with strong opposition from Thai officials [8] - Thai officials are preparing for further negotiations in light of the U.S. tariff decision, indicating ongoing tensions in trade relations [8] - The Thai government is actively seeking to adjust its trade strategies to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs on its exports [8]