"Not sure why he seems to be leaving out the Chinese market and prioritizing the US entry."
It seems to you, but to me it is not him but geography and economics dictate that you send your product to the local market first providing that costs do not prohibit.
N.American market because one does not need to transport very far, longer transportation route meaning result is at higher price.
Once they grt going then they can start ob larger deposits and thus go after higher volume markets like the Chinese.
Just my logic, Ed.