Nanosys, Californian maker of rare earths alternative, could be hit by tariffs on both ends of US-China trade war
- Nanosys develops alternatives for rare earths used in televisions, flat-panel displays
- ‘Significant’ portion of its quantum dot products are shipped to China and face tariffs
Nanosys, a California developer of alternatives to rare earth elements used in televisions, tablets and flat-panel computer displays, has not been able to escape the escalating trade war between the United States and China, according to its chief executive.
As trade tensions have risen between the world’s two largest economies recently, US lawmakers and others have raised concerns that China might use its dominance in rare earths – materials used in hi-tech devices ranging from mobile phones to electric vehicles – to retaliate against the US by cutting off or reducing worldwide supply.
As a result, technology companies, electric-vehicle makers, the US government and others have been seeking alternatives as well as new sources of rare earths. Companies are also exploring ways to recycle rare earths from discarded devices.
Nanosys has manufactured quantum dots – incredibly small phosphors that mimic the qualities of some rare earth elements – since 2013 for use in televisions and other flat-panel displays.
A large portion of its quantum dots are shipped directly to China or go there via South Korea or Japan, Jason Hartlove, Nanosys president and chief executive, said.