Trump says China will resume supplies of rare earths to U.S.
發佈日期: 2025-06-12 22:08
TVB News
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated China will resume supplies of rare earths and magnets to the U.S. after two days of bilateral trade talks in London.
Sources say China is putting a six-month limit on rare-earth export licenses for U.S. automakers and manufacturers.
Reports say that should the proposals go smoothly, Beijing may invite Trump for a state visit as early as September.
Donald Trump told reporters at an event on Wednesday that the trade deal with Beijing was "done," signalling receding trade tensions.
Trump said: "We made a great deal with China. We are very happy with it. We have everything we need, and we are going to do very well with it. And hopefully they are too."
With top officials wrapping up high-stakes trade talks in the British capital late on Tuesday, China and the U.S. are inching towards a framework agreement to implement the consensus already reached in the Geneva meetings last month.
The framework now needs final approval from the two heads of state.
Trump has announced on social media that China will make it easier for American industry to obtain magnets and rare earth minerals, while the U.S. will stop efforts to revoke the visas of Chinese nationals on U.S. universities.
He declared the relationship with China is "excellent," saying "We are getting a total of 55 percent tariffs, China is getting 10 percent."
This as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview that tariffs on China will be locked at 55 percent without additional increases.
The new U.S. tariff rate does not mark an increase from the previous 30 percent set during the first round of trade talks in May, according to a White House official.
Breaking that number down, 10 percent is the baseline levy, 20 percent is fentanyl-related, and 25 percent is the tariff slapped on China during Trump's first presidency.
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported that China is easing its export limits on rare earths critical for hi-tech manufacturing for six months as leverage for future Sino-U.S. negotiations. The framework agreement, if approved by the two leaders, will allow the flow of minerals as early as within a week.
The report further noted Washington is considering relaxing restrictions on sales to China of jet engines, related parts and ethane.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied Washington would ease export curbs on upper-end chips. He told a Senate hearing on Wednesday: "There is no quid pro quo in terms of chips for rare earths."
Vice premier He Lifeng, the head of the Chinese delegation in London, said the two sides should honour their words with concrete action and safeguard hard-won outcomes.
He reiterated in a statement that there are no winners in a trade war, saying:"China does not want to fight one, but is not afraid to do so."
