Trump says China will let rare earth elements flow after call with Xi
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US and Chinese officials will meet in London for trade talks after a “positive” call between Trump and Xi. Beijing agrees to resume rare earth exports as tensions ease—temporarily.
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President Donald Trump points as he arrives on Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, the United States, on June 6, 2025. (AP)
The United States and China are set to resume high-level trade negotiations in London on Monday, following what US President Donald Trump described as a “very positive” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The renewed dialogue comes amid escalating competition over critical minerals and trade friction that has strained relations between the two economic giants.
Speaking from Air Force One on Friday, Trump said that Xi had agreed to resume the flow of rare earth minerals and magnets to the United States, which may temporarily ease concerns over vital supply chains in sectors such as defense, energy, and high-tech manufacturing.
Washington sends senior officials to London talks
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will lead the American delegation in the upcoming talks, which aim to defuse ongoing tensions over tariffs, technology access, and raw material exports.
“The meeting should go very well,” Trump said on his social media platform, referring to the upcoming negotiations.
The White House confirmed that Thursday’s phone conversation between Trump and Xi lasted approximately 90 minutes and focused heavily on the removal of what Beijing terms "negative measures" taken by Washington in recent months, including tariffs and restrictions targeting Chinese technology and academic exchange.
Read more: US, China reach tariff reduction trade deal to ease tensions, effects
Rare Earths at the center of geostrategic contest
Rare earth elements—essential for advanced electronics, renewable energy, and military hardware—have emerged as a flashpoint in the broader contest for economic and technological dominance. Trump told reporters that Xi agreed to “let rare earth minerals and magnets flow to the United States,” suggesting that Beijing may temporarily ease restrictions as a diplomatic gesture.
Two sources cited by US media confirmed that China had granted temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers serving America’s top automakers, indicating a possible shift in China’s trade posture amid complex negotiations.
Read more: US and China meet to ease trade war tensions
