In advance of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to South Korea later this month—where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time since 2019—China announced that it has expanded its restrictions on rare earth and permanent magnet exports.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce’s Announcement No. 61 of 2025 implements the strictest rare earth and permanent magnet export controls to date. The move both strengthens Beijing’s leverage in upcoming talks while also undercutting U.S. efforts to bolster its industrial base.

https://www.csis.org/analysis/chinas-new-rare-earth-and-magnet-restrictions-threaten-us-defense-supply-chains

 

China testing Trump's resolve as US economic outlook looks grimmer?

It's really unbelievable. China's monopoly on rare earths has been a major point of discussion for the past 10-15 years (even in the Bush admin. people warned against it). And after all that time, virtually nothing has been done.

7 minutes ago, John Drake said:

It's really unbelievable. China's monopoly on rare earths has been a major point of discussion for the past 10-15 years (even in the Bush admin. people warned against it). And after all that time, virtually nothing has been done.

In light of that fact, maybe not so wise to engage in economic warfare against China?

6 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

In light of that fact, maybe not so wise to engage in economic warfare against China?

 

Of course. You don't go into a war, economic or otherwise, unless you're strategically prepared to do so. And nobody has prepared for a real confrontation with China, which has simply gotten stronger and stronger since Trump 1 and Biden and now Trump 2.

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Of course. You don't go into a war, economic or otherwise, unless you're strategically prepared to do so. And nobody has prepared for a real confrontation with China, which has simply gotten stronger and stronger since Trump 1 and Biden and now Trump 2.

Better to live peacefully with China than to fight.

On the long run China will be No 1 in the world anyway.

I'm not afraid.

5 hours ago, John Drake said:

It's really unbelievable. China's monopoly on rare earths has been a major point of discussion for the past 10-15 years (even in the Bush admin. people warned against it). And after all that time, virtually nothing has been done.

Absolutely correct. Such a crucial developpement hasn't even made the headlines. At best it appears as a "footnote".

 

Without those rare earths from China the production of all electronic modern devices will nearly come to a standstill. Unless they are "made in China" of course.

7 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Of course. You don't go into a war, economic or otherwise, unless you're strategically prepared to do so. And nobody has prepared for a real confrontation with China, which has simply gotten stronger and stronger since Trump 1 and Biden and now Trump 2.

Trump rode China hard and put her away wet, Biden, errr less so. To be fair he was too busy extorting CCP officials to worry his pretty head about rare earths. At least we can all be thankfull DJT is at the helm, all apart from Xi anyway.

"The US State Department Announcement No. 666 of 2025 implements the strictest semiconductor and lithography  equipment export controls to date. The move both strengthens Washington’s leverage in upcoming talks while also undercutting Chinese efforts to bolster its industrial base."

 

It's different when we do it.

5 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

"The US State Department Announcement No. 666 of 2025 implements the strictest semiconductor and lithography  equipment export controls to date. The move both strengthens Washington’s leverage in upcoming talks while also undercutting Chinese efforts to bolster its industrial base."

 

It's different when we do it.

Can you provide a link for that?

The new export controls outlined by the country's Ministry of Commerce, which took effect on Thursday, require companies to get special approval to export products containing even trace amounts of rare earths sourced from China, including if those products were manufactured abroad by non-Chinese companies. 

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-china-tariffs-rare-earth-elements/

16 hours ago, John Drake said:

It's really unbelievable. China's monopoly on rare earths has been a major point of discussion for the past 10-15 years (even in the Bush admin. people warned against it). And after all that time, virtually nothing has been done.

And what is your problem? That America isn't the hegemon anymore??

2 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Can you provide a link for that?

 

Latest U.S. strike on China’s chips hits semiconductor toolmakers

 

The United States on Monday launched its third crackdown in three years on China’s semiconductor industry, curbing exports to 140 companies, including chip equipment maker Naura Technology Group , among other moves.

 

The effort to hobble Beijing’s chipmaking ambitions also hits Chinese chip toolmakers Piotech , ACM Research and SiCarrier Technology with new export restrictions as part of the package, which also takes aim at shipments of advanced memory chips and more chipmaking tools to China.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/02/latest-us-strike-on-chinas-chips-hits-semiconductor-toolmakers-reuters-reports.html

 

US lawmakers call for broader bans on chipmaking tool sales to China

 

The committee called for broader bans by the U.S. and its allies on chipmaking tool sales to China, rather than narrower bans on sales to specific Chinese chipmakers.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-chipmakers-bought-38-billion-us-allied-tools-sign-policy-is-failing-2025-10-07/

 

U.S. blacklists over 50 Chinese companies in bid to curb Beijing’s AI, chip capabilities

 

The U.S. on Tuesday added dozens of Chinese tech companies to its export blacklist in its first such effort under the Donald Trump administration, as it doubles down on curtailing Beijing’s artificial intelligence and advanced computing capabilities.

 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security added 80 organizations to an “entity list,” with more than 50 from China, barring American companies from supplying to those on the list without government permits.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/26/us-blacklists-50-chinese-companies-in-bid-to-curb-beijings-ai-chip-capabilities.html

 

EUV lithography restrictions on China must continue, Trump aide says

 

Restricting the sale of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment to China is the "single most important export control" the United States has in the area of semiconductors, the White House's AI and crypto czar David Sacks said on Friday.

 

"The first Trump administration began the restriction, and it’s of paramount importance that it continues," Sacks wrote on X.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/euv-lithography-restrictions-china-must-continue-trump-aide-says-2025-05-23/

8 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Trump rode China hard and put her away wet, Biden, errr less so. To be fair he was too busy extorting CCP officials to worry his pretty head about rare earths. At least we can all be thankfull DJT is at the helm, all apart from Xi anyway.

 Not only did Biden keep Trump's tariffs, he actually raised them.

 

https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/december/ustr-increases-tariffs-under-section-301-tungsten-products-wafers-and-polysilicon-concluding

https://archive.ph/yG4Ob

 

He also imposed new semiconductor export controls.

https://www.justsecurity.org/83744/new-us-semiconductor-export-controls-signify-dramatic-shift-in-tech-relations-with-china/

 

He also increased arms sales to Taiwan

https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-10/news/us-offering-more-arms-taiwan?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

Apart from that fact that you got it completely wrong, thanks for the great post.

10 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Trump rode China hard and put her away wet, Biden, errr less so. To be fair he was too busy extorting CCP officials to worry his pretty head about rare earths. At least we can all be thankfull DJT is at the helm, all apart from Xi anyway.

 

Trump has been in office for almost 8 months. Rare earths aren't exactly all that rare. What it is needed to produce them is manufacturing approval, and ignoring the NIMBYs. We wouldn't be in this mess if Trump had moved his fat ass on dealing with the issue when he came into office. Probably 30 percent of rare earths needed for US production could easily come online in 2 to 3 months, 70 percent in 6 months. There are some specialized manufacturing processes but many of these can be converted from existing mining facilities. It's just a matter of the inept Trump administration to get a move on.

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

 

Trump has been in office for almost 8 months. Rare earths aren't exactly all that rare. What it is needed to produce them is manufacturing approval, and ignoring the NIMBYs. We wouldn't be in this mess if Trump had moved his fat ass on dealing with the issue when he came into office. Probably 30 percent of rare earths needed for US production could easily come online in 2 to 3 months, 70 percent in 6 months. There are some specialized manufacturing processes but many of these can be converted from existing mining facilities. It's just a matter of the inept Trump administration to get a move on.

Yep, all DJTs fault, not as if lefty wingnuts are throwing hissy fits every time a RE mine tries to open, is it? Hang on, wait a minute....🤣