WASHINGTON: Australia, India, and several other countries have been invited to a G7 finance ministers’ meeting on critical minerals, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, amid growing Western efforts to reduce dependence on China for rare earths and other strategic resources. Read More: Modi unlikely to attend G7 summit in Canada amid ongoing diplomatic tension The […]
Rare Earths
Xi urges Trump to address Taiwan amid US-China trade talks
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the issue of Taiwan during a phone call on Monday with US President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need to build on a fragile trade truce between the two superpowers. While other topics, including Ukraine, were discussed, Taiwan featured prominently amid rising tensions between Beijing and key US ally Japan. […]
China suspends export ban on key materials to the US
BEIJING – China has announced the suspension of its ban on exporting certain “dual-use” materials, including gallium, germanium, antimony, and super-hard materials, to the United States. The suspension, effective from Sunday, will remain in place until November 27, 2026, according to a statement by China’s Ministry of Commerce. Read More: Pakistan may impose temporary ban on […]
EU, China agree to continue export control talks
BRUSSELS – The European Union and China agreed on Saturday to continue discussions on export control policies. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic spoke after the meeting. Officials met in Brussels to ease trade tensions, particularly over China’s rare earth export restrictions, which are crucial for technology industries worldwide. The talks focused on China’s recent controls […]
US delegation explores Pakistan’s critical minerals potential
ISLAMABAD: A high-level US delegation met with Pakistani officials in Islamabad on Friday to discuss cooperation in the minerals and mining sector, aiming to establish secure and transparent critical mineral supply chains for American industry. Read More: Pakistan’s Minerals: The New Geopolitical Bargaining Chip The delegation, led by Robert Louis Strayer II, president of the […]
US-Pakistan collaboration set to transform minerals sector
Pakistan has invited the US Critical Minerals Forum to present a structured framework for collaboration in its minerals and mining sector. This marks a major policy-level opening for US investment, technology transfer, and sustainable development. The development followed a high-level meeting between Finance Minister Muhamm ad Aurangzeb and Robert Louis Strayer II, President of the […]
Trump, Xi strike one-year trade deal easing tensions over tariffs and rare earths
BUSAN (South Korea): US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had reached a new deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping to ease trade tensions, including a reduction in tariffs, renewed Chinese purchases of US soybeans, and a one-year agreement ensuring the flow of rare earth exports. The breakthrough came after nearly two hours […]
Japan pledges $550 billion to US to strengthen economic ties
TOKYO – Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced a $550-billion investment package for the United States. The move aims to deepen economic ties and secure critical minerals and rare earths. The agreement includes mining, processing, and joint investments to ensure stable global supply chains. Officials said the deal will also boost shipbuilding and increase purchases […]
Trump administration mulls sweeping export curbs on China
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is weighing a sweeping plan to restrict software-powered exports to China, including items ranging from laptops to jet engines, in retaliation for Beijing’s latest rare earth export controls, according to US officials and sources briefed on the deliberations. The proposed measure, not yet finalized, would target global shipments containing US software […]
Trump Admits 100% Tariff on China “Not Sustainable”
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday admitted that his proposed 100% tariff on Chinese imports would not be economically sustainable, but insisted Beijing’s actions forced Washington into the latest trade escalation. “It’s not sustainable, but that’s what the number is,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network, when asked about the […]