In a move that captured global attention, former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his unexpected visit to South Korea last week.

While the official agenda spoke of “regional economic cooperation,” analysts agree that the true discussion centered on one of the world’s most strategic assets — rare earth elements — the hidden resources shaping the balance of technological power in the 21st century.


Behind the Meeting: The Politics of Minerals, Not Diplomacy


The meeting came just days after China announced a one-year suspension of its export restrictions on rare-earth metals to the United States, a move seen as part of a broader trade-truce initiative.

According to diplomatic sources, the encounter between the two leaders went beyond courtesy; it was a strategic negotiation over how these critical materials could influence the next stage of global economic competition.


Trump’s goal, insiders say, was to restore direct communication channels with Beijing and persuade China not to weaponize its control over rare-earth supplies — a crucial input for AI chips, renewable-energy systems, and electric-vehicle production.


What Are Rare-Earth Elements — and Why Do They Matter?


Rare-earth elements (REEs) comprise 17 chemical elements essential to almost every high-tech product in modern life.

They are used in:


Electric-vehicle motors and batteries.


Smartphones, tablets, and communication devices.


Semiconductor chips and data-center hardware.


Military guidance systems and aerospace technologies.


Renewable-energy turbines and solar panels.


China currently produces over 70 percent of the world’s supply and dominates the processing stage, making it the unquestioned leader in the global technology-materials chain.


When Minerals Become a Strategic Weapon


Since 2023, amid rising tensions over semiconductors and AI export controls, Beijing has introduced licensing rules and export restrictions on key materials such as gallium, germanium, and graphite.

These are vital to producing advanced chips, batteries, and defense technologies.


The decision triggered concern across Washington, where manufacturers rely heavily on Chinese materials.

Any disruption could slow production in defense, energy, and consumer-tech sectors, directly affecting firms like Apple, Tesla, and NVIDIA.


Trump’s Mission: Diversify, Negotiate, and Rebalance


Analysts believe Trump’s meeting with Xi aimed to stabilize U.S. access to critical materials while reopening high-level dialogue.

At the same time, Washington is expanding mining partnerships with Australia, Canada, and India, and investing billions to revive domestic extraction and processing capabilities.


Yet, despite these efforts, China retains a technological and logistical advantage built over decades. Replacing its dominance would take years — if not decades — of coordinated industrial policy.


Rare Earths: The Hidden Engine of Power


In today’s world, strength is no longer measured only by military hardware, but by who controls the materials that power innovation.

Rare-earth elements have become the new oil — the indispensable fuel of the digital and green revolutions.

Thus, the U.S.–China dialogue was not about courtesy or trade formalities; it was about who will own the future of technology.




The recent U.S.–China presidential meeting underscores that rare-earth metals are no longer mere commodities — they are the strategic backbone of modern industry and global influence.

The next great economic race will not be fought over oil reserves, but over rare elements buried beneath the earth that power the world above it.