In a dramatic escalation that threatens to shatter a fragile trade truce, US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Beijing, warning of crippling new tariffs if China restricts its export of a critical and highly strategic resource: rare-earth magnets.
The move signals a new and volatile front in the ongoing economic battle between the world’s two largest economies.
The warning was delivered with Trump’s signature blend of bluntness and bravado following a meeting at the White House on Monday.
“They have to give us magnets, if they don’t give us magnets, then we have to charge them 200% tariffs or something,” he told reporters, casting a long shadow over the future of the current trade pact, which is set to expire in mid-November.
A game of high-stakes leverage
To underscore his threat, Trump revealed a stunning piece of hardball tactics, claiming Washington has its own powerful leverage to counter Beijing’s dominance.
“200 of their planes were unable to fly because we were not giving them Boeing parts purposely because they weren’t giving us magnets,” he stated.
This claim carries immense weight, as Bloomberg has reported that Boeing has been working to finalize a deal to sell as many as 500 aircraft to China, highlighting the central role of the aviation giant in these delicate negotiations.
The paradox of power
Trump’s aggressive posture comes at a curious time. According to the latest government data, China’s exports of rare-earth magnets have not only recovered but have surged since Beijing imposed export curbs in April.
Shipments to the US skyrocketed by an incredible 660% in June from the previous month and continued to rise by another 76% in July.
This paradox highlights the core of the conflict: China’s near-monopolistic control over a resource vital to the American manufacturing sector.
With a grip on about 90% of global production, Beijing holds a powerful card in its negotiations with Washington, as these magnets are essential for everything from automotive components to renewable energy technology.
A high-stakes bluff or a prelude to war?
Is this the opening shot of a new trade war, or the calculated bluster of a master negotiator?
Some experts believe it is the latter. Henry Wang, founder of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China & Globalization, suggested the remarks signal an eagerness to seal a deal, not break one.
“He’s bluffing. He always talks big on tariffs or potential punishment, but we shouldn’t get caught up in the rhetoric,” said Wang, a former counselor for China’s state council. He told CNBC that the real test will be in the implementation of existing agreements.
That implementation is about to face a critical test. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, senior Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang is reportedly heading to Washington this week for crucial meetings with US officials.
The fate of the truce beyond its November deadline will hinge on these engagements.
As Alfredo Montufar-Helu, managing director at advisory firm GreenPoint, noted to CNBC that these meetings could lay the groundwork for “enduring solutions to ease the tensions.”
For now, the world watches, waiting to see if the rhetoric of conflict gives way to the reality of cooperation.
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