Trump China Rare Earths Trade War
Axios1 day
Trump Announces 100% Tariff on Chinese Goods
Above: Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House on Oct. 8, 2025. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
China's rare earth export controls are a calculated strategic move to protect national security. Beijing rightfully raised dual-use concerns after discovering that foreign military entities were transferring Chinese rare-earth materials for military purposes, thereby threatening international peace and stability.
Pro-Trump narrative
Trump's 100% tariff response to China's rare earth restrictions is necessary to counter Beijing's extraordinarily aggressive trade hostility. China's sweeping export controls affecting all countries are an unheard-of moral disgrace in international trade that demands immediate American retaliation.