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Posted on 05/12/2026 9:57:09 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Trump heads to Beijing hoping personal ties with Xi can ease tensions but Iran, tariffs, Taiwan and China’s expanding global influence have complicated prospects for meaningful breakthroughs at the summit…
Beijing’s deep economic relationship with Tehran, especially its dependence on Iranian oil — has placed China in a delicate position as Washington seeks broader regional support…
Trump’s first presidency was dominated by tariff battles with China, many of which reshaped global trade flows even after some measures were later struck down in US courts… While a temporary trade truce last year reduced some pressure, the underlying disputes remain unresolved...
The issue of rare earths is expected to feature heavily during the summit. China controls much of the global processing capacity for these minerals, which are essential for electric vehicles, semiconductors and advanced weapons systems… Any further restrictions could significantly affect American industries already grappling with supply-chain vulnerabilities.
Trump has repeatedly praised Xi over the years, once suggesting the Chinese leader “respects me” enough to avoid military escalation over Taiwan...
The two leaders could still meet several more times this year, including at APEC and the G20 summit. But the Beijing visit may ultimately reveal whether both sides can stabilise ties in an era where competition increasingly outweighs cooperation...
(Excerpt) Read more at firstpost.com ...
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Growing leverage?!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
It’s always something. Trump can deal with it.
I think the “rare earths” thing is a sticking point.
Yeah. The US just cut off all their cheap oil from Venezuela and Iran, but China has ‘growing leverage’.
There is also, because our actions in Venezuela and the Panama Canal, and of course this blockade, tremendous leverage for the United States...
I don’t think that’s what the president has in mind...
Yup- china, specifically Xi, is in huge trouble- they have no leverage...
More than the EU than for us.
China does not have more rare earth metals underground than other areas of the globe, but rather the inclination and propensity to process them despite the risk of extreme ecological impact.
We should make areas of the USA where rare earths can be extracted with limited judicial oversite imposed by the Sierra Club’s and WWF constant lawsuits.
The areas should be in places that would have the least environmental impact, as a measure of national security.
Well it is my understanding that US defense companies like Lockheed Martin etc…need to figure out ways around China’s rare earths grip
I guess as long as US defense/weapons industries manage in the meantime?
Note the hissy...
https://www.mining.com/rare-earths-get-bulk-of-trumps-uneven-18-6b-funding-despite-small-role/
I think the president has got that sorted.
That’s exactly what he has in mind. Buy from us and not the Iranians and Venezuelans. At market. Not a 60% discount.
Yes. Stockpile, buy from third parties, search for other sources, accelerate development here at home, all of the above.
It’s the timing…we’re in the middle of a war…
Yeah right and who the hell is First Post?
Growing leverage ? Sure why not .
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