Monday 03 Nov 2025 @ 14:30
Chatham House
Printable version

Trump’s Asia tour moved to counter China’s critical minerals dominance

EXPERT COMMENT

Beijing’s dominance over supply chains will continue. But new US deals with Australia and across the region show rhetoric is now being matched by finance, aiming to take the sting out of any future export restrictions.

Presidents Trump and Xi’s ‘trade war truce’ announced during their summit on 30 October contains one very important provision: China has deferred export restrictions of rare earth materials for at least a year. 

China’s dominance of global production and processing of metals and minerals needed for defence, energy transition, and AI has been a significant tool in the trade war with Washington, which has seen tit-for-tat exchanges of tariffs and export controls.

That has further heightened the growing awareness in the US and Western countries of a strategic vulnerability, leading to new forms of resource nationalism, with governments seeking to shore up supplies of critical minerals and reduce reliance on China.

Click here to continue reading the full version of this Expert Comment on the Chatham House website.

 

Channel website: https://www.chathamhouse.org/

Original article link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/10/trumps-asia-tour-moved-counter-chinas-critical-minerals-dominance

Share this article
RESEARCH EXPERTS EVENTS MEMBERSHIP ACADEMY ABOUT

 

Latest News from
Chatham House

UK’s indecision over Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ highlights need for a more coherent China policy

04/12/2025 12:20:00

The UK government needs a more strategic approach to deal with potential espionage and foreign interference from Beijing.

Putin’s India visit aims to reaffirm New Delhi–Moscow relations – just as Trump applies pressure to downgrade them

03/12/2025 09:20:00

US pressure aims to choke off Russian oil supplies to India. Modi and Putin are seeking to deepen cooperation in other areas. But in the long-term, relations are in a managed decline.

Zelenskyy’s right-hand man has gone. Here’s what should happen next

02/12/2025 15:25:00

Andriy Yermak resigned amid a corruption scandal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must now re-balance power and strengthen democracy by empowering the government, parliament and local authorities.

The UK’s new critical minerals strategy is an ambitious step forward. Now it needs a champion

01/12/2025 15:25:00

The government’s ambitions are welcome, but require dedicated leadership and international support in order to succeed.

De-escalation is needed to prevent Ethiopia and Eritrea from going to war

01/12/2025 12:20:00

Preventive diplomacy is vital to stop another devastating war in the Horn of Africa amid rising tensions over Tigray and Ethiopia’s pursuit of Red Sea access.

China’s ‘smart authoritarianism’ has upended ideas about autocracies’ limitations. The West must cooperate to respond

28/11/2025 15:25:00

Beijing has consistently defied expectations to overcome the ‘King’s dilemma’ – maintaining control while fostering innovation. It presents a historic challenge. 

Trump’s 28 point ‘peace plan’ marks Europe’s last chance to stand up for Ukraine

25/11/2025 15:25:00

European national leaders have been too slow and cautious in their support for Kyiv. Can they rise to meet this defining moment?

Trump pressures Ukraine to accept peace deal: Early analysis from Chatham House experts

25/11/2025 09:20:00

Chatham House analysts give their initial analysis after Zelenskyy was pressured by Trump to accept a White House plan to end the war with Russia.

The UK and Germany should combine their strengths to address weaknesses in European defence

21/11/2025 16:10:00

UK defence has big ideas but is underfunded. Germany’s spending is rapid and extensive – but its approach looks dated. The countries should combine their efforts, says an author of the UK’s 2025 defence review.

Privacy SS