The United States intends to solve its dependence on Chinese supplies of rare earth metals within two years, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS News.
„We will have everything we need within a short period of time“, Trump said. „As you know, we have launched an emergency program and within 12 to 18 months we will have everything we need. Within two years, rare earths will no longer be a problem.“
Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said that Washington intends to join forces with Western countries, including India, to deal with the rare earths problem.
On October 9, China's Ministry of Commerce published two documents to tighten export controls on rare earths and related technologies. On October 10, Trump announced that the United States would impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese products, as well as controls on software exports, effective November 1 or earlier. He also warned of possible restrictions on the supply of other goods to China, mainly aircraft parts.
On October 30, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump announced that China had agreed to continue to supply the United States with rare earth metals without hindrance.
US President Donald Trump has said that the United States itself is doing many of the things China is accused of.
During Trump's interview with CBS News, the host alleged that China has infiltrated American water and electricity grids and that Beijing is stealing American intellectual property and the personal data of American citizens. "We are a threat to them too. We are doing many of the same things that you have listed against them," the US leader said.
Trump added that, like China, Washington is "playing the long game."