Xinhua News Agency reported today: "As the Sino-US trade friction continues to escalate, China's rare earth exports in September fell 31% month-on-month, reaching the lowest level since February this year, casting a shadow over the possibility of a trade truce between the two countries."
This data clearly confirms that China's upgrading of rare earth export controls on October 9 was not an ad-hoc move, but a step-by-step and planned action using rare earths as a "strategic ace".
In April this year, China first used rare earth control to precisely counter the US tariff war, successfully forcing the US back to the negotiation table and achieving partial consensus. However, the US did not relent, continuing to block China's high-tech industry and frequently resorting to extreme pressure tactics. In response, China once again intensified its measures, expanding the scope of control to the entire rare earth industry chain and related technologies. This move enraged Trump, who threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, further escalating the already tense Sino-US trade relations.
Original source: www.toutiao.com/article/1845874695616712/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.