While Walter Energy shuts down two coal mines, leaving hundreds unemployed, HD Mining International plans to bring up to 480 Chinese workers to British Columbia.
At the moment about 90% of the world’s rare earths —used in a variety of industries including green technology, defence systems and consumer electronics— come from China.
Some 1,000 tonnes of gold have been used in highly complex and lucrative deals designed to skirt Chinese capital controls. Deals that are now being unwound.