In the short term, the silver world is seeing a 60% drop in its purple ribbon.
This isn't a bluff; almost all exports have halted since January 1st, meaning 60-70% of silver is not in circulation.
This isn't a sell-off; it's a way to fully defuse domestic industry shortages, which will likely be diverted to the defense industry. This is because the US is assuming it intends to take on China head-on. Even drones are now considered gimmicks, so heavy weaponry is a given, and it seems the Chinese are nothing more than merchants. They seem to believe that providing silver to a war-starter would be self-destructive. They are probably absolutely in need of it to accelerate supplies to the Chinese military.
Even Japan, the car industry, imports silver, so this is a head-on fight, so that's what's going to happen. The US and Japan are collaborating on financial maneuvers, so just how far do they intend to go down the same path?
All semiconductor companies in Florida, USA, have also suspended operations, and Japan and Germany are already being closely monitored. All European operations have also been suspended.
EVs, batteries, precision military parts, airplanes, ships, medical supplies, electrical appliances, solar panels, motors, smartphones, PCs, and more. This isn't because products can't be made, but because companies are declining, laying off staff, tax revenues are falling, and inflation is occurring worldwide. I'm not sure if this will happen across the board.
COMEX, this is no time to be foolish. If your counterparties go bankrupt, won't the banks themselves suffer a severe backlash?
Making a killing off of war and the defense industry is a bad idea.