Raw materials: U.S. grows more vulnerable to third world cartels
The success of the Arab oil embargo may be encouraging producers of other scarce raw materials to form a cartel against the United States. Pessimistic and optimistic opinions abound. Most third world countries need to sell as much as they can. The political hues of most potential members of a cartel make an arrangement unlikely, such as in the case where Southern Rhodesia, South Africa, Turkey, and the USSR corner the exportable market of chromium, but a coalition is unlikely. The U. S. government has a powerful weapon against cartels in the form of a massive, billion stockpile of strategic minerals. The nonenergy mineral position of the USA seems certain to weaken in the long haul. Technological advances, recycling, substitution, and changing lifestyles to pay for deferred social costs of past consumption and inequities in distribution seem to be in order. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-020561
- OSTI ID:
- 4331041
- Journal Information:
- Science, v. 183, no. 4121, pp. 185-186, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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