Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe by Niall Ferguson review
(Evening Standard) – From plagues and volcanic eruptions to the current Covid pandemic, mankind has always been faced with catastrophes.
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Eyck Freeman: How to Break China’s Minerals Chokehold
Thought Leader: Eyck Freymann
December 10, 2025
Source: Columbia-Harvard
Written by: Eyck Freymann, Joshua Stinson, William Norris, and Daniel Egel.
This essay is based on a Hoover History Lab working paper, co-authored with Joshua Stinson, William Norris, and Daniel Egel. Read the full version here.
In April, Beijing quietly reminded the world how much leverage it has over the allied industrial base.
After Washington rolled out a new round of tariffs on PRC EVs and batteries, PRC regulators responded by tightening export controls on several rare earths and processed minerals. Within weeks, procurement managers across North America, Europe, and East Asia were scrambling. A handful of factories in sectors that have nothing to do with EVs—electronics, specialized alloys, even defense components—started talking about scaling back shifts or retooling.
Beijing never had to announce a “sanctions package.” It just had to make life difficult for a few under-the-radar firms that depend on PRC refiners and processors, and let the fear of escalation do the rest.
This is the new face of economic coercion: not a dramatic embargo, but targeted interventions in thin, opaque markets where one country—China—controls an overwhelming share of processing capacity. In some critical minerals, that share is over 90 percent. Even where mining is geographically diverse, the chokepoint is in refining and separation, and that chokepoint often sits on the Chinese mainland.
Dr. Eyck Freymann is a keynote speaker who delivers unparalleled perspective on the evolving U.S.-China relationship. Drawing on deep expertise in CCP strategy, global economics, and national security, he translates complex geopolitical trends into clear, practical takeaways for business leaders, investors, and policymakers. Whether advising on high-stakes decisions or addressing audiences worldwide, Dr. Freymann provides the foresight and clarity needed to navigate today’s shifting global order. Contact WWSG to bring Eyck to your next speaking engagement.
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