China restricting rare earths despite deal
Strategic competition with Beijing demands clarity on American commitments and economic leverage.
The mainstream framing treats China’s rare earth squeeze as a hiccup in an otherwise manageable relationship. But it is not a glitch. It is a reminder that Beijing will weaponize supply chains whenever it suits its interests, deal or no deal.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
China is still restricting the rare earth elements that the U.S. needs to produce its own permanent magnets and other products even after President Donald Trump reached a deal with his Chinese counterpart in October to lift restrictions on the
Original source:
Read at Dispatch ArgusHow We See It
New Republican Times Editorial Board
The mainstream framing treats China’s rare earth squeeze as a hiccup in an otherwise manageable relationship. But it is not a glitch. It is a reminder that Beijing will weaponize supply chains whenever it suits its interests, deal or no deal.
What gets missed is the cost of pretending this is just trade friction. When China restricts inputs needed for magnets and advanced manufacturing, it is testing whether the U.S. will accept strategic dependence. Conservatives care less about polite communiques and more about national security, supply chain resilience, and economic sovereignty backed by production at home.
That means using lawful leverage and investment to rebuild capacity: faster permitting for domestic mining, real processing and refining, and tighter screening of technology transfer. Public trust erodes when leaders promise stability while relying on an adversary for essentials.
The principle is simple: strategic materials are not a bargaining chip if we want a stable, self-governing economy.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.