That makes sense. If the US government is selling it cheap, those who purchase from the US and other holders have the incentive to hold on to their helium til

That makes sense. If the US government is selling it cheap, those who purchase from the US and other holders have the incentive to hold on to their helium til later when the price returns to normal. You're right. Oil is a good example. That's why embargoes don't work. The target country just has to buy it through a third party to defeat the embargo. Embargoes can really only work when the country embargoed is shooting itself in the foot with price controls, as we did in the 70s.