Beijing’s New Export System Tightens the Grip on U.S. Defense Supply Chains

Beijing is rolling out a new export control system for rare-earth magnets — the lifeblood of EVs, defense tech, and AI hardware. Under this “validated end-user” plan, civilian companies may see faster approvals, but U.S. military-linked firms are effectively locked out.

This strategic pivot, revealed by The Wall Street Journal, builds on months of escalating restrictions and could reshape global supply chains for years. The U.S. still depends heavily on China for rare earths, despite efforts by MP Materials (NYSE: MP) and allies to build independent capacity.

For global investors and policymakers, this isn’t just about minerals, it’s about control of the 21st-century industrial base.

Mark Carney Just Gave the Canadian Mining Sector the Golden Pickaxe

Canada’s 2025 federal budget marks a historic turning point, and it puts the mining sector in the national spotlight.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled a sweeping plan that injects billions into critical minerals and reshapes the way Canada approaches national security, industrial strategy, and global supply chains.

The budget introduces a C$2B sovereign fund designed to support resource projects through equity investments, loan guarantees, and offtake agreements. Natural Resources Canada receives major new funding to set up and manage this initiative, while Innovation, Science and Economic Development gains resources to expand processing technologies and build joint investments with allied nations.

The Mining Association of Canada, led by CEO Pierre Gratton, praised the budget for strengthening Canada’s competitiveness, supporting Indigenous participation, and accelerating high-value job creation across the country.

With expanded CMETC coverage for 12 new critical minerals, enhanced flow-through financing for juniors, and a First and Last Mile Fund designed to bring mines online faster, Canada is firmly staking its claim as a future world leader.

A powerful moment for miners, investors, and the country’s industrial future.

Michael Burry’s “Byte-Sized” Warning to the AI Bulls

Michael Burry, the man who predicted the 2008 crash, is warning that the AI frenzy could follow a similar script. His concern? Depreciation.

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has turned GPUs into the most sought-after asset in tech, but with a shelf life of just five years, those chips are burning cash faster than they’re creating it. Hyperscalers like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Meta (NASDAQ: META) are spending billions, while private financiers such as Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX), Magnetar Capital, and Macquarie (ASX: MQG) pour in debt financing.

Even CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV), now valued at $50 billion, is using Nvidia chips as collateral for billions in loans, with OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI among its major clients. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang continues to drive innovation, but the speed of progress may be outpacing the market’s ability to sustain it.

As Burry warns, the “depreciation tsunami” could turn today’s trillion-dollar dream into tomorrow’s accounting nightmare.

China Opens the Critical Mineral Tap, but Keeps Its Hand Firmly on the Valve

China’s latest move to suspend its export ban on gallium, germanium, and antimony is more than a diplomatic gesture, it’s a calculated pause in a long game of leverage.

Announced by China’s Commerce Ministry on November 9, 2025, the one-year suspension provides a temporary sigh of relief for U.S. industries reliant on these strategic minerals, from semiconductors to defense systems.

But this isn’t détente, it’s a timeout. With Beijing controlling 99% of refined gallium and over half of the global germanium market, the power imbalance remains stark.

As the U.S. pushes to secure domestic and allied sources, this reprieve underscores one thing: mineral independence isn’t optional, it’s essential.

Trump Adds Copper and Met Coal to America’s Critical Minerals Arsenal

The Trump administration’s decision to add copper and metallurgical coal to the U.S. critical minerals list marks a defining moment in America’s resource strategy.

Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX), long a champion of copper’s strategic importance, stands to benefit from the new incentives that accompany critical status. CEO Kathleen Quirk has been vocal about the challenges of producing copper in the U.S. due to lower grades and higher costs.

Metallurgical coal’s addition aligns with President Donald Trump’s support for strengthening the domestic steel industry at a time when Chinese tariffs have pressured American exporters.

Rich Nolan of the National Mining Association welcomed the expansion, underscoring the need for a resilient mineral supply chain that supports defense, manufacturing, and clean energy technologies. With the Interior Department now elevating copper and met coal, the U.S. is signaling to global markets that mineral security is national security.

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