稀土禁令形同虚设？外媒爆中资公司将稀土通过第三国大量转运美国

Core Viewpoint - China has implemented export restrictions on antimony, gallium, and germanium to the U.S., but significant amounts of these critical minerals continue to flow into the U.S. through third-party countries like Thailand and Mexico, indicating a complex challenge in enforcing export controls [1][3][19]. Group 1: Export Trends and Data - Following China's export ban on December 3, 2024, U.S. imports of antimony from Thailand and Mexico surged, with a total of 3,834 tons imported from these countries between December and April, nearly matching the total from the previous three years [3]. - Thailand and Mexico have emerged as the top destinations for Chinese antimony exports, a significant shift from their previous rankings before the ban [3]. - Both Thailand and Mexico lack substantial antimony resources, with each country having only one smelting facility, indicating a high likelihood of re-exporting Chinese antimony to the U.S. [6][7]. Group 2: Role of Companies and Trade Networks - Unipet Industrial Co. in Thailand, a subsidiary of Chinese producer Youngsun Chemicals, has become a key player in this re-export chain, shipping at least 3,366 tons of antimony products to the U.S. from December to May, a 27-fold increase compared to the previous year [8][10]. - The receiving company in Texas, Youngsun & Essen, previously sourced antimony directly from a Chinese supplier before the ban [10]. - The trade data suggests a high probability of re-exportation, although the original source of the materials is not disclosed in the shipping documents [10]. Group 3: Smuggling and Regulatory Challenges - U.S. companies are employing similar strategies for gallium procurement, using third-party countries to mask the origin of the materials [11]. - Despite China's strict export licensing system and enforcement actions, significant loopholes remain, allowing for creative evasion of regulations by domestic companies [15][19]. - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has acknowledged the collusion between foreign companies and domestic violators to bypass export restrictions, emphasizing the importance of combating such practices for national security [15]. Group 4: Geopolitical Implications - The international prices of antimony, gallium, and germanium have risen sharply since the implementation of the export ban, creating lucrative opportunities for smuggling and re-export [18]. - The ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S. over critical minerals are becoming increasingly pronounced, with the enforcement of export controls and the compliance of cross-border trade practices being critical issues [19][20].