China’s rare earths squeeze leaves US dangerously exposed

The recent intensification of US-China trade frictions, marked by China’s expanded export controls on rare earth elements (REEs) announced on October 9, 2025, and President Donald Trump’s subsequent 100% tariff threat on October 10, underscores the deepening mistrust between the world’s two largest economies.China, which controls 85-90% of global rare earth processing capacity, introduced the measures through a series of Ministry of Commerce notices affecting rare earths, processing technologies, batteries, and superhard materials, with most taking effect on November 8.In response, Trump threa...

ドイツ：政府は新たな成長の原動力を活性化できるのか

Japan: Takaichi’s political foundation to revive part of Abenomics shaken after Komeito opts out

Japan’s political landscape is in flux. After Sanae Takaichi was elected as the President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4th, her nomination as the country’s first female Prime Minister (PM) has been complicated by Komeito’s abrupt exit from the ruling coalition. While Takaichi’s future as the PM is subject to negotiation to form a coalition, her government might end up being short-lived.Takaichi’s conservative ideologies shaped from Abe protégé background signals a revival of Abenomics, although with a more expansionary fiscal twist, and a hawkish tilt on foreign policy.On t...