China’s rare earths chokehold: Trump blinks first

China has tightened its grip on rare earths, the minerals used in electric cars, missiles and smartphones. That pressure has pushed President Trump to soften his trade stance. Rare earths are a group of 17 metals. They are hard to mine and hard to replace. China controls most of the world’s supply and almost all of its processing. In recent weeks, Beijing has slowed exports and tightened permits. The move threatens American factories, defense contractors and tech companies. Trump, who once promised a hard line on China, has now delayed new tariffs and signaled he wants a deal. Critics call it a retreat. Supporters call it pragmatism. The message is clear: on rare earths, China holds the whip hand. Washington is still searching for a way out.