China bans exports to US of gallium, germanium in response to chip sanctions

21 points by tsujamin 7 months ago | 13 comments
  • exabrial 7 months ago
    Good…? Buying these materials from state sponsored communist “labor” is plagued with ethical problems.
    • jqpabc123 7 months ago
      Not buying these materials from the low cost producer is plagued with economic problems.

      It increases costs for all consumers (aka inflation), makes American manufacturers and their products less competitive and hurts the overall economy.

      Bottom line: Tariffs ultimately hurt as much as they help --- if not more. Only a simpleton would think this sort of juvenile policy applied on a large scale is how you "Make America Great Again".

      • troyvit 7 months ago
        For you personally, which is more important, the economic problems that come with this with having to re-source these materials from somewhere else, or the byproduct of (we assume) the US having less slave labor in its supply chain?

        I can see both sides. If we keep using slaves to produce materials that lessen our dependence non-renewables and help save us from a climate disaster, then maybe it's a question of perfect being the enemy of the good?

        On the other hand if we continue to rely on slave labor to get us these resources, then will we remain dependent on slave labor? Will we be endorsing slave labor, and by doing so help expand its use around the world?

        Or maybe, given our current record with slave labor in the U.S. [1] is this all just hand waving anyway? IOW if we use slaves, why should we complain if our economic partners do?

        [1] https://www.aclu.org/news/human-rights/captive-labor-exploit...

        • jqpabc123 7 months ago
          For you personally, which is more important --- avoiding a world wide economic collapse or "the US having less slave labor in its supply chain".

          The latter option means stopping all trade with China and many other countries.

          Do you fully understand the implications and the magnitude of human suffering that your hard ethical stance will create?

        • yetihehe 7 months ago
          Not using slaves also makes products more costly and hurts consumers.
        • DiogenesKynikos 7 months ago
          What do you know about labor conditions at the Aluminum Corporation of China vs. alternative suppliers of Gallium?

          Are you speaking out of specific knowledge about this subject or out of generalized prejudices?

          • SapporoChris 7 months ago
            Ethics has very little to do with business. One example, there are many others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_collaboration_with_Na...
            • salawat 7 months ago
              You say that as if there's nothing that can be done about that. As it turns out, bad ethics can be turned into a one way trip to not being able to operate in respectable business circles.

              Remember, the race to the bottom does have an adjustable lower bar.