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It only took them five years.

The world’s highest glass bridge, largest seaplane, and biggest radio telescope are all from China, but the world’s factory just couldn’t make an entire ballpoint pen of its own — until now.

SXRTV

To be precise, China is the world’s biggest supplier of ballpoint pens with a production rate of 38 billion per year, but it had to rely on importing a vital component — the nibs.

SXRTV

It bothered the country (not the consumers) so much that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang openly complained about it enough that it seemed like his words were falling on deaf ears.

Chinese pens felt “rough” compared to those made in Japan, Germany, and Switzerland, Li said, where 90% of the country's nibs are imported from, costing its industry $15 million per year.

Paramount Pictures

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