How China checkmated Western economies

0 December 8, 2025 10:51

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Further reading mentioned in the video:
China is using America’s own trade weapons to beat it: https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/10/23/china-is-using-americas-own-trade-weapons-to-beat-it
China’s power over rare earths is not as great as it seems: https://www.economist.com/interactive/briefing/2025/08/13/chinas-power-over-rare-earths-is-not-as-great-as-it-seems
Why China is winning the trade war: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/10/23/why-china-is-winning-the-trade-war
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SOURCES:
I’ve linked my sources in the blog that goes along with this video. Links are in the text.
https://www.moneymacro.rocks/2025-12-08-mineral-monopoly/

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:11 Why are critical minerals are so important?
05:53 China’s monopoly
11:15 Why is China winning?
12:15 How should the west respond?
16:45 Conclusion and Sponsor

Attribution:
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Thank you to AP Archive for access to their archival footage.
Stock footage and others clips by Getty

Written by Dr. Joeri Schasfoort
Edited by Natalia Karpacz

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Can the West still counter China’s mineral monopoly?