What Did Trump and Xi Actually Agree To On Rare Earths? We Fact-Checked the Claims
Introduction
A recent article from CNN described President Trump’s claim that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had agreed to resume exports of rare earth materials from China to the United States. However, the article also pointed out that China’s official readout of the phone call made no mention of rare earths. This raised flags for readers, especially regarding how much, if any, progress was truly made during the call. One user asked: “Why didn’t China even mention rare earths in their official statement if this was such a big ‘win’ for the U.S.?” We fully verified the key claims here.
Historical Context
Rare earth minerals are critical ingredients in modern technology, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and advanced military equipment. China dominates the global processing of these materials, accounting for over 90% of output, positioning rare earths as a geopolitical leverage point. Previous U.S.-China trade confrontations, particularly under the Trump administration, have often featured rare earths at the center of high-stakes negotiations. China has used licensing bottlenecks as a form of pressure, while the United States has sought greater supply security through trade diplomacy and domestic production efforts.
Fact-Check of Specific Claims
Claim #1: Trump stated that Xi Jinping agreed to “restart the flow of rare earth materials.”
This claim is accurate only in terms of what Trump said, but it lacks official corroboration. During a press conference aboard Air Force One, Trump declared, “Yes, he did,” in response to a question about whether Xi had agreed to restart rare earth exports. However, the Chinese government’s official readout of the call made no mention of rare earths at all. Furthermore, when asked at a press briefing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson sidestepped the rare earths question. This significant omission from China’s side suggests that either the agreement Trump referenced was informal or not mutually acknowledged. Without bilateral confirmation or specific terms, the claim is unverifiable by independent sources.
Source: https://www.state.gov/, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ (Chinese Foreign Ministry)
Claim #2: China’s rare earth export restrictions began April 4, 2025, as a response to U.S. tariffs.
This claim is accurate. China imposed new export regulations on rare earth minerals in April 2025, shortly after the U.S. announced new reciprocal tariffs targeting Chinese technology goods. The export controls introduced were not outright bans but involved a formal licensing system where each shipment required individual government approval. The Chinese Commerce Ministry confirmed this timeline and attribution, citing national security and dual-use technology concerns. Independent analysis published by the Brookings Institution and Reuters has also tracked this timeline and echoed the policy response as tied to broader U.S.-China tech tensions.
Sources:
Brookings Institution: https://www.brookings.edu/
Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/
Claim #3: Chinese scholars indicated that China won’t readily give up its rare earth leverage.
This claim is correct and fully supported by source statements within the article and independent commentary. The article quotes multiple Chinese government advisors such as Wu Xinbo and Jin Canrong, who articulate that Beijing views its rare earth dominance as a strategic asset, particularly in negotiations involving U.S. restrictions on advanced semiconductors. Wu emphasized that while export licenses may be granted, the process can be slowed down or sped up depending on diplomatic relations, offering Beijing flexibility without violating trade truce agreements. This aligns with long-standing Chinese policy to use economic instruments to retain negotiation leverage.
Sources:
Center for American Studies at Fudan University
Renmin University of China
Claim #4: Some U.S. companies have recently received six-month export licenses from China but delays persist.
This claim is accurate and supported by a statement released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China. While select U.S.-affiliated entities have reported receiving new licenses, delays and processing backlogs remain widespread. Applications for rare earth shipments can take up to 45 working days to process, according to China’s Commerce Ministry. The situation remains uncertain, particularly as China retains full discretion over each approval. Third-party reports and stakeholder surveys confirm these findings, reflecting the ongoing economic friction despite resumed dialogue.
Sources:
American Chamber of Commerce in China: https://www.amchamchina.org/
South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/
Conclusion
While President Trump stated that Xi Jinping agreed to restart rare earth exports, the lack of confirmation from any official Chinese source seriously weakens the reliability of that claim as a substantiated diplomatic achievement. The CNN article accurately describes this discrepancy, though it could have been more upfront in questioning the single-sourced nature of Trump’s statement. Additional insight from government advisors and scholars shows that China is unlikely to relinquish its strategic hold on rare earth materials without securing major concessions from the U.S. The article offers ample context and refrains from overt bias, but the headline might give readers the impression of a breakthrough that, in official terms, does not appear to exist.
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