New Tech Spec Issued for Waste E-Product Pollution Control (HJ 527—2026)

This week, ferrous metals were in the doldrums. On the first day after the holiday resumption, due to the impact of overseas risk events during the long holiday—primarily the US's plan to impose new tariffs on approximately six industries (including large batteries, cast iron and iron fittings, plastic pipes, industrial chemicals, as well as power grid and telecommunications equipment) and the escalation of US-Iran tensions—overall sentiment fluctuated significantly, and ferrous futures also touched recent lows. Mid-week, with some steel mills in the Tangshan area receiving notifications for voluntary emission reductions during the Two Sessions, coupled with Shanghai's adjustment of housing purchase restrictions and rumors of favorable real estate policies during the Two Sessions, futures rebounded from lows, showing significant sector resonance effects. However, as the weekend approached, no new favorable policies emerged, and futures retreated once again.

Three informed sources revealed that the Trump administration plans to use an AI model developed by the Pentagon to simulate reference prices for critical minerals in its proposed "Global Metal Trading Zone." Earlier this month, US Vice President Vance suggested that the United States and more than 50 other countries should adopt "reference prices for critical mineral products at varying degrees of processing," supplemented by "adjustable tariffs to maintain the systematic nature of pricing." According to these sources, the reference prices for critical mineral products will be determined by the US Department of Defense's (DoD) Open Price Exploration for National Security (OPEN) AI Metals Initiative.