Trump calls Xi’s rare earth move a ‘bad moment’ — why it matters for US national security, China ties

China has announced plans to impose export controls on rare-earth magnets, a move that former President Trump described as a "bad moment" and which poses significant implications for U.S. national security and its relationship with China. These rare-earth elements are crucial components in various defense systems, including F-35 fighter jets, submarines, and missile systems, as well as civilian products like electric cars and electronics. China, a dominant player in the global rare earth market, mines a substantial portion of these minerals and processes nearly all of them. The new Chinese regulations, set to take effect in December 2025, will require foreign companies to obtain Chinese approval to export magnets containing even small amounts of rare earth elements or manufactured using Chinese technology. Firms linked to foreign militaries, including the United States, will largely be denied export licenses. China cites national security concerns and the "dual-use properties" of these elements for both civilian and military applications as justification for these restrictions. This development has drawn strong criticism from members of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, who view the controls as an "economic declaration of war" and a threat to the American economy. They are urging for actions to penalize China and emphasize the need for the U.S. and its allies to diversify supply sources and invest in domestic processing to reduce reliance on China. In response, the Trump administration had previously threatened imposing 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and considered canceling a m... download the app to read more