US-China now in a very different kind of trade war', experts warn

"The latest flare-up took place when Beijing, on October 9, expanded its restrictions on the export of rare-earth metals, increasing the number of elements on the list. list of 4 itemsend of list China has the largest reserves and the majority of processing facilities of rare-earth metals that are used in a range of daily and critical industries like electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops"

"In a first, it also required countries to have a licence to export rare-earth magnets and certain semiconductor materials that contain even trace amounts of minerals sourced from China or produced using Chinese technology. China's actions on rare-earths also came after the US expanded its Entity List, a trade restriction list that consists of certain foreign persons, entities or government, further limiting China's access to the most advanced semiconductor chips,"

"China retaliated by applying its own charges on US-owned, operated, built or flagged vessels. For the US, its actions on chip exports and shipping industry fees were not related to the trade deal with China, said Vina Nadjibulla, vice president for research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. Since then, the two countries have also been in an information war, said Nadjibulla, each blaming the other for holding the world hostage with its policies."

Relations between the United States and China are tense, with the Trump administration lacking a clear approach to Beijing. On October 9, China expanded export restrictions on rare-earth metals, increasing listed elements and requiring licences to export rare-earth magnets and certain semiconductor materials that contain trace minerals sourced from China or produced using Chinese technology. China holds the largest reserves and most processing capacity for rare-earths, which are critical for electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops and defense equipment. The moves followed U.S. expansions of the Entity List and added levies on China-linked ships, and China retaliated with charges on U.S.-owned or flagged vessels, heightening strategic pressure on global supply chains and sparking an information war.

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