Beijing, 29 April 2026 – China’s dominance in rare earth supply chains is emerging as one of President Xi Jinping’s strongest bargaining tools ahead of a planned summit with US President Donald Trump in Beijing next month, as Washington continues to seek ways to reduce dependence on critical Chinese-controlled materials.
According to Bloomberg Economics analysis, around 4% of US gross domestic product, equivalent to about US$1.2 trillion, is connected to industries that use rare earths. While some sectors may be able to adjust to supply disruptions, many have limited substitutes, and certain operations could be forced to slow or halt if access is sharply restricted.
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