China has found Trump's pain point - rare earths

US-China tensions have reached a boiling point as Beijing tightens its grip on the global supply of rare earth minerals, crucial for the production of everything from smartphones to fighter jets. The move is seen as a significant escalation in the trade war between Washington and Beijing, with US President Donald Trump threatening to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods.

China's Ministry of Commerce recently announced sweeping new curbs on its rare earth exports, which will require foreign companies to obtain government approval to export products containing even tiny amounts of these critical minerals. The move is likely to have a significant impact on the global supply chain, particularly for countries heavily reliant on Chinese imports.

The implications are far-reaching, with US defense contractor Lockheed Martin estimating that a single F-35 fighter jet requires over 400kg of rare earths for its stealth coatings, motors, and other components. China's dominance in the processing of rare earth minerals has been a key factor in Beijing's ability to exert significant influence over the global supply chain.

While some US officials have dismissed the move as an attempt by China to "shock the system" and gain leverage in trade talks with Washington, experts argue that Beijing is using its control of rare earths as a way to pressure the US into agreeing to more favorable terms. The Chinese government has already highlighted the need for talks, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying that both sides should engage in effective communication and resolve their differences.

However, US officials have left the door open to negotiations, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressing optimism about the potential for a de-escalation of tensions. While China's economy is unlikely to be significantly impacted by the drop in exports, Beijing sees its control of rare earths as a key strategic asset that will give it leverage in talks with Washington.

The US could offer to lower tariffs, which would likely be attractive to Beijing, or threaten to hit China with more trade restrictions to hamper efforts to develop its technology sector. However, experts argue that these measures are unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behavior, as the country is willing to take pain in pursuit of its long-term goals.

Ultimately, the US and China are locked in a high-stakes game of economic diplomacy, with both sides seeking to gain an advantage in the global supply chain. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen whether Washington and Beijing can find common ground or if the trade war will continue to dominate the global agenda.

I dont get why China is being so aggressive about these rare earth minerals... its like they're trying to hold a superpower hostage . I mean, we know how important those things are for our tech and defense industries, but surely there's gotta be some room for compromise?

And what really gets me is that China seems to think it can just impose these new curbs on its exports and then expect the US to roll over . Like, I get that they're trying to negotiate better trade terms, but this isn't gonna scare us into submission .

I'm not a diplomat or anything, but it seems to me like we should be negotiating from a position of strength... but what if we try too hard and end up weakening ourselves? .

I'm thinking... like what's up with China's move on rare earths? I mean, we know they're a major player in the game, but this feels like a pretty bold step. They're basically saying "hey, we control the goods, so you gotta play by our rules".

And yeah, it's not like the US is going to just roll over and accept that. We've got our own interests to protect, especially when it comes to defense. Those F-35s aren't gonna build themselves, right? ️

But at the same time, I don't think China's doing this out of some kind of malicious intent. They're just trying to level the playing field and get a better deal. And who can blame 'em? We've been playing hardball with them for years, so it's time for them to take matters into their own hands.

I'm still not sure what the endgame is here, though. Are we gonna see some kind of trade war that'll shake the global economy? Or will Washington and Beijing just find a way to work things out? Only time will tell...

I'm telling you, China is just trying to flex its muscles here... they're not gonna let US companies get all up in their rare earth business without a fight . I mean, we all know how much tech relies on those minerals, it's like a chokehold on our economy or something. And now the Chinese government is like "nope, you gotta get permission from us to export even tiny amounts"... that's not just some 'shock the system' move, that's a strategic power play .

And let's be real, US defense contractor Lockheed Martin saying we need over 400kg of rare earths for one F-35 jet? That's like a giant middle finger to China . It's all about leverage now, and I think Beijing is just gonna sit back and watch us scramble to comply with their demands .

It's not like China's economy is gonna tank or anything... they're willing to take the hit in pursuit of their long-term goals, and that includes taking on the US . This trade war thingy? It's just a game of economic diplomacy, and China's playing by their own rules .

I'm so done with this trade war already . I mean, who needs all these tariffs and restrictions? It's just gonna make everything more complicated and expensive for everyone involved. And what's up with China pulling this rare earths trick? Like, I get it, they wanna gain leverage in talks with the US, but do they really need to strangle their own economy like that? It's all so back-and-forth, and I'm just over here thinking, "Can't we all just get along?" Anyway, I heard Lockheed Martin saying those F-35 jets require like 400kg of rare earths... talk about a high-stakes game indeed!

I'm so done with these two nations going at it . Like, can't they just talk things out? China's got a tight grip on rare earths, but that's not gonna solve anything. The US needs those minerals for its defense industry and whatnot, and China's just holding them hostage . It's like, don't get me wrong, I'm all for fair trade practices and whatnot, but this is just getting ridiculous. And honestly, who wins in the end? The US gets to impose more tariffs, or China gets to flex its muscles? It's just a lose-lose situation . We should be worried about the real threats facing our world, like climate change and pandemics, not this petty trade war nonsense . Can we please just focus on solving some actual problems for once?

I'm getting really worried about this whole rare earth mineral thing . China's got a stranglehold on them, and now they're basically saying "you need our permission to export them"... that's not a game anymore, it's a serious threat to the global economy . I mean, what if other countries start to look for alternative sources? That could have some major consequences . And let's be real, who do we really trust on this one? The US is just going to keep on threatening tariffs and whatnot, but at the end of the day, they're not doing anything about it . China knows this, and that's why they're pulling out all the stops . I'm not saying the US can't negotiate or anything, but this whole thing is just getting too complicated for my taste .

I'm not buying all this drama around rare earth minerals... like, what's the big deal? It's just some metal that's used in a bunch of gadgets . China's got it in a stranglehold, sure, but so do lots of other countries . Can't we just negotiate a fair trade deal instead of resorting to all this saber-rattling? And what's with the US threatening to impose more tariffs? That's just going to hurt American consumers and businesses . I think both sides need to calm down and focus on finding some common ground . Maybe they can work out a deal that benefits everyone, not just one side .

yeah i think china is trying to use its control of rare earths as leverage against us they're basically saying "hey usa, you need our help with those cool tech things, and we want better deals in return" meanwhile, it's not like china is gonna be super hurt by losing some exports they've got a huge economy and can just make more of these minerals or find other sources. but i guess this is good for us to keep an eye on because who knows what the long game looks like

I mean, who doesn't love a good game of economic diplomacy, right? It's not like we're all stuck in this cycle of tariffs and trade restrictions or anything . But seriously, have you seen the size of those rare earth imports from China? Like, 400kg for one F-35 fighter jet is just.... And now Beijing is all like "Hey, we're gonna make sure you pay us more to play nice" . I guess that's what happens when you let a superpower get too good at playing the economic game . Can't wait to see how this all unfolds, because clearly, diplomacy is just code for "let's negotiate and pretend like we care about each other's feelings" .

"the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
I think the US and China should try to work together instead of escalating tensions, but it's hard when both sides are so invested in winning this game of economic diplomacy. The world needs more cooperation and less competition, especially when it comes to something as important as rare earth minerals. We can't keep putting all our eggs in one basket and expecting everyone else to be okay with that

OMG this is like, so obvious lol what's going on here?! China's all like "hey we're controlling the rare earths now you gotta talk" and the US is all like "ok fine let's negotiate" but they both know it's a game of cat and mouse. I mean, who really cares about tariffs and trade restrictions? It's all about China getting what it wants, which is like, total dominance over the global supply chain . And don't even get me started on Lockheed Martin saying their F-35 jets need 400kg of rare earths for like, stealthy goodness . This is like, so not a coincidence that China's always been in control of these minerals... it's all part of the plan, bro

This is getting intense! China's move on rare earth minerals feels like a calculated risk - they know it'll cause a stir in the US, but it's also a way for them to exert control and get what they want in trade talks. The thing is, we've seen this before with tariffs and trade wars, and it never seems to end well. The US is getting desperate, offering concessions like lower tariffs just to calm things down, but I'm not convinced that'll make a difference. Beijing's got China on the hook for its long-term goals, and they're willing to take a hit in pursuit of power. This is a game of cat and mouse, with the US trying to negotiate and China refusing to back down. It's only going to get more complicated from here...

I'm getting super frustrated with all these complex trade wars . China's move on rare earth minerals is like a game of cat and mouse - they're tightening their grip, and the US is trying to find ways to loosen it . But let's be real, this whole thing is just so... messy . Can't we just get some format consistency in our global trade agreements? Like, seriously, how hard is it to make a simple table with columns for country A vs country B and the goods traded between them?

On a more serious note, I think China's control of rare earths is a big deal, but we need to look at the bigger picture here . The US is not just going to impose tariffs on Chinese goods without considering the impact on their own economy . And vice versa - China can't just expect the US to roll over and give in to their demands without putting up some fight .

Ultimately, I think both sides need to sit down and have a proper conversation about this trade war . We don't want it to escalate into something that hurts everyone involved .

I'm telling you, this is getting serious. China's got us right where they want us - on the back foot when it comes to rare earth minerals. They're basically holding the nuclear option (or should I say, the nuclear-powered F-35 ) and threatening to cut off our access if we don't play ball. And you know what? It might just work! Beijing's been playing this game for years and they've got it down to a science. The US is all like "oh no, we can't afford to lose access to these minerals" but China's all like "you want to play hardball? Bring it on!"

ok so like imagine you're at a big dinner party and everyone's fighting over who gets to control the salt shaker china just tightened its grip on rare earth minerals which are super important for making lots of cool stuff like smartphones and fighter jets and now the US is all like "hey we don't like this"

but here's the thing... china's got so much control over these minerals that they can basically hold the entire world hostage and right now they're just saying "oh yeah we'll sell you some of these minerals but only if you agree to do what we want" which is not cool

so like the US could try to negotiate with china and offer them some concessions in exchange for lifting their restrictions or they could just try to find another way around it which would probably lead to more drama either way it's gonna be a super tricky situation to resolve

I'm not sure what's more concerning, the fact that China's got us by the throat when it comes to those rare earth minerals or the fact that we're still relying on a single country for so many of our tech needs Like, can't we diversify our supply chains already? And what's up with Trump threatening more tariffs? Doesn't he know that just makes things worse? I mean, I get it, China's been playing hardball, but this feels like a game of chicken to me . Can we please just have a rational conversation about our trade policies instead of resorting to posturing and threats? It's not like China's going to magically start sharing its secrets or something .

this is getting intense! china's move on rare earth minerals feels like a low blow, but i think both sides know what they're doing. the us needs to step up its game and show china that it can't be bullied into making concessions. maybe trump is right about imposing more tariffs? at least it'll make us look tough, even if it's not gonna solve anything.

on a brighter note, has anyone seen those new augmented reality glasses from google? they're supposed to revolutionize the way we interact with information... anyway, back to china. seriously though, this is like a game of cat and mouse, where both sides are trying to outsmart each other. will it lead to a breakthrough or just more stalemate?

I think this is getting out of hand China's move on rare earth minerals is like they're playing hardball and the US is trying to keep up . But honestly, it feels like a never-ending game of chicken where both sides are just trying to see who blinks first . I'm not sure what's more worrying, the fact that China has this kind of control over our tech supplies or that we're letting them get away with it . Either way, it's gonna be a wild ride and I hope both sides can find a way to talk things out before it gets really ugly .