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Reposted by Usagi

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

It's not news that Europe is slow

But to read that - 35 articles in a state newspaper (public!) assessing China's chokepoints - 7 years before the policy discussion properly started here, is tragic

US & China are going for the jugular. EU sharpens its quill for another roadmap

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Reposted by Usagi

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

Been thinking about this all week. On the train to the Hague I was reading Edward Fishman's 'Chokepoints'

In 2018, when Trump cut ZTE off from US kit, a newspaper run by China’s Ministry of Science & Technology published a series of 35 articles titled “What Are Our Chokepoints?”

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 2d

Or a seller from Europe. From anywhere! Any weapon or piece of equipment to Ukraine with any Chinese rare earth in it will require Beijing's permission.

We've seen how slow they've been with approving these before, this could be a nightmare

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 2d

This could be really damaging. Just imagine Europe or Ukraine trying to buy a military item that contains a trace of a Chinese rare earth from a seller in the United States. Beijing would need to approve!

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 2d

Beijing will require any foreign entities exporting rare earth materials that are made in China to apply for a dual-use item export permit from the Ministry of Commerce, effective immediately, according to a separate notice from the ministry

www.scmp.com/economy/poli...

China unveils ‘major upgrade’ to rare earth controls ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

The wider restrictions will give Beijing greater leverage in coming negotiations with the US, analysts said.

www.scmp.com

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 2d

Pretty hilarious that after years of very noisy public debate about the anti coercion instrument, this guy thinks it's a secret weapon...

The EU has a secret weapon to counter Trump’s economic bullying. It’s time to use it | Johnny Ryan

The anti-coercion instrument, or ‘trade bazooka’, is designed to shield against foreign pressure, says civil liberties campaigner Johnny Ryan

www.theguardian.com

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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 1d

In 2017, Macron and his supporters celebrated to the tune of Ode to Joy. He was the Europhile in chief.

In 2025, he is responsible for one of Project Europe’s main pillars wobbling.

Superb from @timross1.bsky.social and @msolletty.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/brus...

The EU’s worst nightmare has never looked so real

If the far right gains control of parliament in the EU’s second-largest country, Europe will fundamentally change.

www.politico.eu

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Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 16m

If only it didn't come with those associated, slightly sinister tendencies undoing all the frivolous fun.

Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 16m

We really ought to use "cad" more often. www.thetimes.com/article/a364...

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Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 17m

A woman's agency in business doesn't suddenly end when her actions cross over into illegality. The mens rea isn't subject to masculinity.

Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 17m

Stop trying to force a false dichotomy. Someone can be a woman, a successful businesswoman at that, and still engage in economic crime and be expected by law to take responsibility for her actions.

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Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 18m

Said man would also be expected to take responsibility for the sort of positioning exhibited by Mone to orchestrate PPE Medpro's move into the Conservative government's PPE procurement fast lane using her contacts.

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Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 18m

With very obvious benefits extracted from the company PPE Medpro's securing of procurement/supply contracts.

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Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 18m

Surely it makes sense to accept that anyone else in her position - say, a successful businessman - would also be subjected to such scrutiny, given the salience of the topic in the heavy loss of taxpayers' money to unusable PPE equipment.

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Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 19m

Slightly frustrated by the Times and other publications giving Mone a relatively easy ride on the basis of the attacks by Reeves being aimed at a successful businesswoman.
www.thetimes.com/article/d2df...

Usagi @usagi3939.bsky.social · 10d

But Baroness Mone specifically manoeuvred herself into a position optimal to exploitation of desperate times when normal circumstances and procedures had been suspended, from which she and her husband benefited at the expense of taxpayers. To deny that either of them benefited from this is absurd.

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