China is dramatically tightening its control over the rare earth minerals crucial to making high-tech products, in what US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called “a global supply chain power grab”.

Beijing’s latest flexing of international economic muscle comes just weeks before Xi Jinping is due to meet Donald Trump in South Korea. The US president has hit back by threatening 100% tariffs on all products from China but it’s clear Beijing’s “chokehold on rare minerals” will be its “key bargaining chip” in the upcoming trade talks with Washington, said the BBC .

What are rare earths?

Rare earths are a group of 17 metallic elements with similar characteristics. They are key – and largely irreplaceable – components in electronic products, robotics and green technologies. Despite their n

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