RE: MKA23 Sep 2025 13:24
🇨🇳 U.S CAN’T PRY RARE EARTHS FROM CHINA’S GRIP
Rep. Adam Smith just wrapped the first U.S House visit to China since 2019, and confirmed the rare earth mineral supply dispute is still unresolved.
The minerals power everything from iPhones and EVs to fighter jets and missiles. China controls over 80% of the global supply, and it’s not rushing to share them.
A vague “framework” deal was signed in June, promising reviews of export applications. But Smith said bluntly: “I don’t think we resolved the rare earth question.”
Even as U.S supply reportedly “bounced back,” EU firms are warning of critical shortages - and no one has seen the fine print of the agreement.
The visit also covered TikTok’s U.S spinoff talks (still messy), fentanyl trafficking, and China’s rapidly growing nuclear arsenal - now nearing 1,000 warheads.
Beijing’s also dangling a major Boeing aircraft deal, likely timed for a Trump–Xi summit in South Korea next month.
Rare earths aren’t just a trade issue - they’re a geopolitical pressure point, and right now, China still owns the lever.
Source: Bloomberg