US blasts China as 'unreliable partner' amid escalating trade tensions

"The United States has accused China of betraying a fragile trade truce reached earlier this year, in a sharp escalation of rhetoric between the world's two largest economies. In a rare joint appearance in Washington, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent condemned Beijing's decision to tighten export controls on rare earth materials, describing the move as an act of "economic coercion" and a "power grab" aimed at dominating global supply chains."

"China processes around 90% of the world's rare earths and magnets - materials crucial to the manufacture of smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced defence technologies. Under new rules announced last week, foreign companies will need Chinese government approval to export products containing even small quantities of rare earths, and must disclose their intended use. Beijing has also moved to restrict exports of graphite and lithium batteries, key components of electric vehicles and consumer electronics."

"Greer described the scope of the measures as "unimaginable", adding that it was "unclear whether such sweeping controls could even be implemented in practice." "We are seeing a level of overreach that the global economy simply cannot absorb," he said. In response, President Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on all Chinese imports beginning next month and is preparing new export restrictions on critical US software. Greer confirmed that these measures are currently being drafted."

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent condemned China’s new export controls on rare earth materials as economic coercion and a power grab aimed at global supply chains. China processes around 90% of the world’s rare earths and magnets, which are essential for smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced defence technologies. New rules require foreign companies to obtain Chinese government approval to export products containing even small quantities of rare earths and to disclose intended use. Beijing has also restricted exports of graphite and lithium batteries. The US is preparing 100% tariffs on Chinese imports and new export controls on critical US software.

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