Op-Ed: Antidumping duties can blunt China’s playbook

Core Viewpoint - The West can protect its critical mineral producers from China's predatory pricing through existing antidumping laws, which can neutralize supply flooding that threatens domestic investment [1]. Group 1: China's Market Strategy - China employs a dual strategy of restricting exports to inflate prices and then flooding the market to undermine Western competitors once they mobilize capital [3]. - The historical example of Molycorp illustrates how China's export restrictions led to a temporary price surge, attracting significant investment, only for prices to collapse when China restored supply, resulting in Molycorp's bankruptcy [6]. Group 2: Antidumping Laws as a Solution - The antidumping duties under the Tariff Act of 1930 can effectively counteract China's pricing strategies by imposing levies that increase as export prices fall, making predatory pricing less advantageous for China [9]. - This approach can extend the protective benefits seen in the MP Materials floor-price agreement across the domestic sector without requiring the government to become a permanent buyer or take equity stakes in projects [10]. Group 3: Legal and Strategic Framework - The legal basis for implementing antidumping duties is strong, as they are explicitly authorized by Congress and align with international trade agreements, providing a robust framework for action against China's practices [11]. - The U.S. can also coordinate with allies to initiate parallel antidumping proceedings against Chinese imports, establishing effective price floors across multiple Western markets [13]. Group 4: Need for Structural Protection - While independent pricing benchmarks and strategic stockpiles are beneficial, they do not eliminate China's ability to manipulate the market; systematic use of antidumping duties is necessary for long-term supply chain stability [14].