China didn't supply enough rare earths, and the U.S. dares to be angry but can't speak out.
According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in an interview: "China has not fully fulfilled its commitments regarding rare earths as stipulated in our agreement." She then added: "That said, we are still consistently receiving supplies of rare earths. No factories have shut down due to a lack of rare earth materials."
On one hand, the U.S. criticizes China for falling short; on the other, it acknowledges that supply has not been disrupted—clearly demonstrating a contradictory stance.
Beneath these remarks lies evident anxiety in the U.S., as China's dominant position in the rare earth sector remains unshakable in the short term. Although the U.S. is building partnerships with allies to diversify critical mineral supply chains, such efforts are far from solving immediate needs.
As for China’s actions, the U.S. has shown remarkable restraint. While acknowledging that China “has not fully fulfilled its obligations,” Washington still avoids direct criticism—likely for two reasons.
First, it doesn’t want to escalate trade tensions. Any tough countermeasures would likely trigger reciprocal responses from China, potentially leading to supply chain disruptions, domestic market instability, and negative impacts on midterm elections.
Second, it wants to avoid spoiling the atmosphere ahead of upcoming U.S.-China meetings. After all, Trump has already invited Chinese officials to visit the U.S., suggesting that the rare earth issue may be reserved for resolution during a summit. This indicates that, amid broader Sino-U.S. strategic competition, the current U.S. strategy is to maintain overall stability while addressing specific issues individually.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870861401097305/
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