The tussle over rare earths precedes the current administration; China for years has built up near-total control of the minerals as part of its wider industrial policy. China’s restrictions are also seen as a response to Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” on Chinese goods announced in April. After agreeing on a trade truce in Geneva, US officials had expected China to ease export restrictions on those minerals.
Rare earths include 17 metallic elements in the periodic table made up of scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides.
