China doubled down on its call for cooperation, not confrontation, in trade relations with the U.S. this week, as tensions simmer over rare earth minerals and tariffs. 🇨🇳🇺🇸
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized Monday that "dialogue is the golden key" to resolving disputes, responding to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s recent warnings about potential tariff hikes. The remarks come after rare earths exports – crucial for tech like smartphones and EVs – became a new flashpoint in the trade rivalry.
"Threats are like trying to fix a smartphone with a hammer – they just make things worse," Mao quipped during a briefing, referencing recent China-U.S. economic talks in Kuala Lumpur. She urged both sides to build on progress made during November’s Busan leaders’ meeting to stabilize global supply chains.
With 65% of the world’s rare earth processing under China’s belt, this showdown could impact everything from your next TikTok-ready gadget to climate tech. 🔋📱 Stay tuned as the world’s top two economies navigate this high-stakes economic chess match!
