Trump slams China’s rare earth export controls as ‘hostile,’ signals tariff retaliation

Abdullateef Fowewe

United States President Donald Trump sharply criticised China’s recent move to impose export controls on rare earth elements and other production materials, calling it a “very hostile” and unprecedented trade tactic.

In a statement on Friday, Trump said, “Some very strange things are happening in China! They are becoming very hostile, and sending letters to countries throughout the world, that they want to impose Export Controls on each and every element of production having to do with Rare Earths.”

He described the Chinese action as an attempt to “clog the Markets, and make life difficult for virtually every Country in the World, especially for China.”

Trump highlighted that the move surprised global leaders, noting his previous positive relationship with China in recent months.

“Our relationship with China over the past six months has been a very good one, thereby making this move on Trade an even more surprising one,” he said.

The President accused China of planning to “hold the World ‘captive’” through monopolising rare earths and related materials, a “rather sinister and hostile move, to say the least.”

Trump underscored the U.S. also holds strong monopoly positions and warned, “I have just not chosen to use them… UNTIL NOW!”

He confirmed plans to retaliate financially, including a “massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States of America,” along with other countermeasures under consideration.

Trump criticised the timing of China’s move, coinciding with historic peace developments in the Middle East, asking, “I wonder if that timing was coincidental?”

Trump concluded, “Ultimately, though potentially painful, it will be a very good thing, in the end, for the U.S.A.”