Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with U.S. Ambassador David Perdue on Tuesday in a meeting that underscored both the hope for improved bilateral relations and the mounting strain over critical mineral exports.
The meeting comes at a sensitive moment, as China continues to tighten controls on key mineral resources, triggering renewed friction with Washington.
During the talks in Beijing, Wang emphasized China’s commitment to fostering “healthy and sustainable” ties with the United States, expressing hope that both countries could steer their relationship back toward stability. “Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation should be the guiding principles,” Wang said, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.
However, the conciliatory tone contrasted sharply with ongoing tensions surrounding China’s recent actions in the critical minerals sector. The U.S. has accused Beijing of reneging on commitments made last month during a high-level trade meeting in Geneva, where both sides agreed to ease restrictions on the export of seven key minerals essential to high-tech manufacturing, green energy, and defence industries.
In recent weeks, China has moved to tighten its control over these materials, launching a domestic crackdown on illegal mining operations and strengthening oversight on rare earth producers. Chinese officials argue these actions are aimed at environmental protection and national security, but U.S. trade representatives view them as an indirect form of economic coercion.
The minerals at the centre of the dispute - including gallium, germanium, and rare earth elements - are vital for semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries, missile guidance systems, and other critical technologies. China controls a substantial portion of the world’s supply and processing capacity, making its trade policies a significant factor in global economic stability.
While Ambassador Perdue echoed Wang’s call for improved ties, he reportedly raised concerns over the lack of follow-through on the Geneva agreement and reiterated the United States’ position that stable trade in strategic materials is essential for global markets and mutual trust.
The meeting is seen as part of a broader diplomatic push by both sides to manage competition while avoiding escalation. President Trump is expected to speak directly with President Xi Jinping later this week, with trade disputes - including the mineral export row - likely to dominate the agenda.
As tensions rise over strategic resources, both Washington and Beijing face the challenge of balancing national security with the urgent need for cooperation in a deeply interconnected global economy.
In a grey government building near Tiananmen Square, a small team within China’s Ministry of Commerce is quietly shaping the future of the global auto, aerospace, and tech industries—one export permit at a time. With rare earth magnets now under strict export control.
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China’s central bank has announced a new set of measures to strengthen financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aiming to help them navigate external uncertainties and maintain stable operations, according to a senior official at the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).
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The NGO Ocean Cleanup, in collaboration with the Guatemalan government and local communities, has installed the largest trash barrier to date on the Motagua River. This major effort aims to capture and remove vast amounts of garbage before it reaches the sea.
As peace talks progress, voices from Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku reveal hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future shaped by trade, trust, and generational change in the South Caucasus.
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Federal authorities have arrested 14 suspects in Los Angeles linked to an Armenian organized crime ring accused of stealing $30 million in COVID relief and Small Business loans intended to support American taxpayers.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, had a surprisingly friendly and calm meeting at the White House. They talked about important issues like the war in Ukraine, trade, and NATO troops, but unlike some past meetings with world leaders, this one went smoothly.
Japan is preparing a strategic offer to the United States centered on rare earth elements and liquefied natural gas, aiming to secure relief from steep U.S. tariffs amid growing trade frictions with China.
An escalating feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump threatens to disrupt key U.S. space programs and jeopardize $22 billion in government contracts with SpaceX.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has extended warm wishes to Muslims around the world celebrating Eid al-Adha, calling for unity, compassion, and solidarity in a time marked by global conflict and division.
President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation reinstating a travel ban that restricts entry to the United States for citizens of 12 countries, citing national security threats and inadequate vetting processes.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, had a surprisingly friendly and calm meeting at the White House. They talked about important issues like the war in Ukraine, trade, and NATO troops, but unlike some past meetings with world leaders, this one went smoothly.
Japan is preparing a strategic offer to the United States centered on rare earth elements and liquefied natural gas, aiming to secure relief from steep U.S. tariffs amid growing trade frictions with China.
An escalating feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump threatens to disrupt key U.S. space programs and jeopardize $22 billion in government contracts with SpaceX.
Scientists have identified a long-lost group of hunter-gatherers who vanished from Colombia’s highlands 2,000 years ago, reshaping our understanding of ancient human migrations in South America.
The NGO Ocean Cleanup, in collaboration with the Guatemalan government and local communities, has installed the largest trash barrier to date on the Motagua River. This major effort aims to capture and remove vast amounts of garbage before it reaches the sea.
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