Analysts Anticipate Escalating Tensions as Beijing Imposes Rare Earth Controls, Washington Retaliates

News Analysis President Donald Trump announced the imposition of an additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods and export controls on critical software, effective Nov. 1, in direct response to what he called Beijing’s “hostile” escalation by weaponizing rare earth exports. China observers suggest that China’s move was intended to increase its bargaining leverage and pressure Trump into making concessions. But some analysts believe China overplayed its hand, underestimating how sharply the Trump administration would respond. On Oct. 9, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued sweeping new regulations significantly expanding export controls—not only on raw rare earth elements, but also on magnets, alloys, batteries, semiconductor materials, related machinery, and any product containing even 0.1 percent Chinese-sourced rare earths. These rules apply not just to Chinese exports, but also to foreign-manufactured goods if they incorporate any Chinese-origin rare earths or technologies....