"Tennessee Zinc Smelter: A Battleground in the U.S.-China Trade War"
An obscure zinc smelter in Tennessee, owned by Dutch company Nyrstar, is seeking funding for an expansion to process germanium and gallium, minerals vital for producing chips used in smartphones and radar systems. China's recent export restrictions on these minerals have created a potential shortage, making the Tennessee smelter a crucial player in the global trade war. The expansion aims to protect jobs and yield profits for Nyrstar, but it also carries the risk of China resuming exports and causing prices to plummet. The U.S. is racing to catch up with China in rare-earth minerals and other scarce resources, driven by the threat of natural-resource protectionism and increasing demand.
