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The EU demanded that China loosen its sales of rare earth materials after the World Trade Organization (WTO) upheld a ruling that Beijing’s policies to limit raw material exports violated international trade rules. The reason a case was even filed is because countries argues that the higher prices their manufacturers were forced to pay for goods such as bauxite, coke and zinc put them at a disadvantage across a wide swath of industries – from steel to batteries, chemicals and ceramics. The move comes as Beijing has sought to impose similar restrictions on the export of rare earths, a category of 17 elements that are found in array of high-tech products, including solar panels, wind turbines and mobile phones. China accounts for more than 90 percent of global production of such materials. that dominance has unnerved its trading partners – particularly since Beijing has tightened supplies repeatedly over the past four years.
OK, so here’s the first question – what does that have to do with marketing? My answer is always the same – it has to do with the ability of the advertising industry to identify trends.
Associate Creative Director at bloomfield knoble