The Chinese bismuth price fell by 4.8% on Friday May 10 after suppliers cut their selling prices in an attempt to stem declining export demand after the United States raised import tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese products, including bismuth, to 25% on the same day.
The increase to the import tariffs from 10% previously followed a threat earlier by US President Donald Trump that he would raise tariffs ahead of a new round of trade talks in Washington midweek last week. Chinese bismuth exports to the US account for around 30% of China's total export demand. Exporters said their profit margins will be squeezed to zero if they continue to export to the US. That said, if exporters transfer their materials to the already oversupplied domestic market, the resultant increased supply and...