October 22, 2025
How to Escape China’s Rare-Earth Chokehold
This article was originally published in The Wall Street Journal.
Your editorial is right that countering China’s weaponization of rare-earth supply chains requires technological breakthroughs and allied coordination (“Allies United Against China on Rare Earths,” Oct. 17). Yet whereas you consider President Trump’s tariffs to be obstacles, we see them as tools. Offering targeted relief to nations that erect barriers to Chinese exports and join a U.S.-led coalition can help thwart Beijing’s rare-earths power grab.
Now is the time to double down, using the levies to reduce allied dependence on China.
During his first administration, Mr. Trump defied economic orthodoxy by imposing tariffs on China, recognizing U.S. market access as a powerful source of leverage. President Biden accepted this strategy by keeping the tariffs in place and raising them higher. This term Mr. Trump is taking the approach global, using tariffs to press countries and corporations for such concessions as lower trade barriers and investment commitments.
Read the full article on The Wall Street Journal.
More from CNAS
-
Video
Transatlantic Security / Energy, Economics & Security
Bloomberg Tech | Day 1 | Opening Night DebateGeoffrey Gertz, senior fellow, joined Bloomberg Tech's opening night debate and attempted to answer the question “Is Europe Too Late to Compete in the Chip War?” The U.S. and ...
By Geoffrey Gertz
-
BBC Business Today: China Defends Rare Earth Export Controls amid Tensions with USA
Video
Senior Fellow and Director of the Energy, Economics, and Security Program Emily Kilcrease joined BBC to discuss rare earths minerals and the US-China relationship. One of the ...
By Emily Kilcrease
-
Why the Latest U.S.-China Tech Fight May Be the Biggest Yet
Podcast
Tensions between the U.S. and China are inflamed yet again — with the tech sector in the crossfire. In the latest move, Beijing has threatened to restrict the trade of rare ea...
By Liza Tobin
-
Export Controls and U.S. Trade Policy: Making Sense of the New Terrain
Commentary
This article was originally published in Just Security. U.S. export controls are evolving from a narrow national security tool to a broader trade policy instrument, reflectin...
By Geoffrey Gertz & Thomas Krueger
