Biden and Xi in Beijing some years ago when relations seemed friendlier. (Photo by Lintao … [+] Zhang/Getty Images)
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Beijing and Washington continue with their mutual hostility. Late last year, the Biden administration placed restrictions on exports of equipment for the manufacture of advanced semiconductors to China. At the same time, it announced subsidies for the domestic manufacture of semiconductors. Washington even got Japan and the Netherlands to join the export ban. Now, just before the beginnings of high-level China-U.S. trade talks, Beijing has parried these moves by imposing export restrictions on two metals – gallium and germanium – both of which are essential to many commercial and military technology applications. So far Washington has not responded to Beijing’s move.
Beijing has delayed the start of this ban to August 1, no doubt in the hopes of some American concessions. Nonetheless, Beijing clearly is preparing to use this trade weapon. Recalling America’s 2014 victory at the World Trade Organization (WTO) when China banned the export of rare earth elements, this latest ban has a very different administrative structure. To make it harder to bring a WTO case much less win it, Beijing would not simply ban exports but rather would insist that producers obtain a special license to export the metals. Officials could then grant the licenses on a case-by-case basis according to what Beijing would claim as protection for “national security and interests.”
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This is no small matter for the United States, or Japan or Europe for that matter. China at present is the world’s largest supplier of these critical metals. Volumes of production and trade are small, but the metals are essential to the production and maintenance of semiconductors, phone chargers, missile technologies, electric vehicles, fiber optic systems, solar cells, and other important technologies. At present, some 94% of the world’s gallium and about 60% of the world’s supply of germanium come from China. To be sure, neither metal is especially rare. Indeed, the United States is home to the world’s largest germanium mine. Large deposits also exist in Russia, Belgium, and Canada. Gallium deposits are found in Russia, Ukraine, Japan, and South Korea. But over the years, China has undercut prices in the sometimes-expensive extraction and refinement process so that many of these sources have fallen into disuse, including the huge germanium mine in the United States.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in recent talks with China has made conciliatory noises. She claims that trade relations should not take on the character of “a winner-take-all fight.” Given Washington’s past anti-Chinese rhetoric, however, as well as other actions from the Biden Administration, it is not apparent what kind of a resolution she could arrange. Although Beijing has given the talks time before this counterattack goes into effect, Yellen has little room to offer Beijing any concessions in return for a change in this proposed gallium and germanium arrangement. Almost any softening could be viewed as weakness in Washington.
Even if Secretary Yellen finds some way to disarm the present impasse, China’s threat on gallium and germanium, as well as earlier threats to cut off supplies of rare earth elements, should serve as a wake-up call for the United States and the rest of the developed world. Such threats make it clear that America, as well as Europe and Japan, need to diversify their sourcing of raw materials and manufactures away from China, to “de-risk,” in the phrase preferred by the European Union over “de-couple.” Japan at the recent G-7 meetings had already warned the world of the dangers of too much dependence on Chinese sources. Tokyo proposed a scheme to find alternatives elsewhere in the world, Africa for instance, on rare earth elements, and if necessary provide funding for development. So far, no other country, including the United States, has shown much enthusiasm for the Japanese plan, but this latest threat with gallium and germanium might well change attitudes in both Washington and European capitals.
The author of one of the most iconic moments in Washington Huskies history is entering the transfer portal.
Cornerback Elijah Jackson, who had the game-winning pass breakup that sent Washington to the national championship last season, announced on his social media that he will search for a new home for his final season of eligibility on Wednesday.
Jackson was passed on the depth chart this season by Arizona transfer Ephesians Prysock and emergent senior Thaddeus Dixon, relegating him to rotational duties on the outside after an injury kept him out for most of spring practice. He played only 152 snaps on defense, with ten tackles and two pass breakups.
His best play of the 2024 season came on special teams against Northwestern when Jackson chased down Wildcats returner Joseph Himon II inside the five-yard line to prevent a kickoff return for a touchdown. The Huskies defense responded with a goal-line stand, preserving critical momentum in what became a 24-5 victory.
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Jackson is the fourth member of the Huskies secondary to enter the portal, joining cornerbacks Darren Barkins and Curley Reed III and safety Tristan Dunn. Dixon is also out of eligibility, leaving Jedd Fisch’s squad with Prysock and a cadre of inexperienced younger players at corner heading into 2025.
Alongside those four, Washington has also seen linebacker Khmori House, edge rushers Maurice Heims and Lance Holtzclaw, running back Cameron Davis, wide receiver Camden Sirmon, offensive lineman Kahlee Tafai, punters Jack McCallister and Adam Saul, and long snapper Caleb Johnston enter the portal.
Jake Dickert has been in charge at Washington State since midway through the 2021 season. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Wake Forest moved quickly to secure its new head coach.
According to the Athletic, the Demon Deacons are hiring Washington State coach Jake Dickert just days after Dave Clawson stepped down. Clawson announced Monday that he was resigning after 11 seasons as the team’s head coach.
Washington State is 23-20 in three-plus seasons under Dickert. He took over midway through the 2021 season after coach Nick Rolovich was fired over a prolonged vaccination fight with the university. The Cougars have posted two winning seasons in Dickert’s three full seasons with the school and were 8-4 in 2024 during their first season in college football’s wilderness.
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Oregon State and Washington State were effectively left without a conference ahead of the season when 10 of the Pac-12’s members found other conferences. Oregon State and Wazzu made up the “conference” portion of their schedules via an alliance with the Mountain West and are spearheading an effort to rebuild the Pac-12 with an assortment of current Mountain West teams.
Washington State lost three straight games to end the season after an 8-1 start in 2024, though the Cougars were one of the more entertaining teams in college football. Washington State scored nearly 37 points per game but gave up over 28 points a contest.
QB John Mateer led college football with 44 total touchdowns, though he too is leaving Washington State. Dickert announced Monday that Mateer would be entering the transfer portal.
Mateer’s decision to transfer comes as Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was hired as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator. The turnover in Pullman may be indicative of Washington State’s tough future ahead at the top level of college football as the Cougars are no longer part of a power conference.
Wake Forest went 4-8 in 2024 for a second consecutive four-win season. The Demon Deacons won 11 games in 2021 but fell to 8-5 in 2022 before going 4-8 in 2023. In 11 seasons at Wake Forest, Clawson’s teams went 67-69 with seven bowl appearances. He came to Wake Forest after five years in charge at Bowling Green. The Falcons were 32-32 in his time there and went to three bowl games.
(KALB) – State Senator Cleo Fields is getting ready to head to Washington, D.C., as a newly elected U.S. congressman. Fields sat down with KALB’s Jay McCully to discuss his plans to represent Louisianans in Congress.
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