BEIJING, October 17, 2025 — China on Thursday issued a seven-point rebuttal to US accusations that its new rare earth export controls amount to a “global supply-chain power grab,” as trade tensions between the two largest economies continue to escalate ahead of an expected meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
Read More: China Sanctions Five US Units of Hanwha Ocean
The response, published by People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, defended Beijing’s measures as consistent with international norms and rejected US claims of a lack of transparency.
The rebuttal followed remarks by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who said on Wednesday that China’s new licensing regime—set to take effect on November 8—could reignite tariff hostilities unless rolled back.
Beijing insists it had notified Washington before the announcement and argued that similar controls have long existed in the US, the EU, and Japan. “The United States has long overstated national security concerns and abused export controls,” one infographic stated. “Washington maintains a control list over 3,000 items—more than triple Beijing’s 900.”
Read More: Beijing Imposes Sanctions on Five American Shipping Firms
The Global Times, a People’s Daily-owned tabloid, accused the US of breaking past commitments and said Washington’s surprise expansion of its “Entity List” in late September—targeting Chinese firms and foreign partners in the semiconductor supply chain—was the real cause of renewed tensions. “Washington should not be surprised by China’s tit-for-tat,” the paper wrote, adding that the “direct trigger for this round of tension was Washington’s breach of promises—an all-too familiar pattern.”
The latest exchange underscores a deepening standoff over critical minerals and advanced technology. Rare earth elements are vital for producing electric vehicles, smartphones, and military hardware, giving China—by far the world’s largest supplier—significant leverage in the global market.
Read More: Oil Prices Drop as US-China Tensions Escalate
Both sides have accused each other of weaponizing trade tools for geopolitical advantage, with analysts warning that the dispute could further strain global supply chains and dampen investor confidence ahead of November’s Trump–Xi meeting.