Trump's China Trip: A Rare Earths Conundrum in the Making President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to China, accompanied by a delegation of top US executives, will undoubtedly be marked by intense negotiations over trade agreements and technology deals.
However, beneath these high stakes discussions lies a more intricate issue: rare earth minerals. Rare earths are essential components of modern industry, used in everything from smartphones to wind turbines.
Their production has become a contentious issue due to China's dominance in this sector. Currently, China produces around 60% of global rare earths, while the US relies heavily on imports to meet its needs.