Trump signals hard line on China ahead of Malaysia negotiations

President Donald Trump has identified rare earth minerals, fentanyl, and soybean trade as the United States’ top issues with China, as the two countries prepare to resume negotiations amid a fragile trade truce nearing expiration.

Speaking on Air Force One on October 19, Trump said, “I don’t want them to play the rare earth game with us,” highlighting concerns over Beijing’s planned broad controls on these critical minerals. Rare earths are vital for technology and defence manufacturing, including fighter jets, smartphones, and other key industries, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Trump also pressed China to curb fentanyl exports, citing its role in the US opioid crisis, and urged Beijing to resume soybean purchases, a key leverage point for US farmers. China’s soybean imports from the US have fallen to zero this year, while South American purchases have increased. Trump has warned China that failure to comply could lead to a 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting November 1, threatening the trade truce set to expire on November 10 unless extended.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that talks will take place later this week in Malaysia, following a virtual meeting with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng on October 17, described by Chinese state media as a “constructive exchange of views.”

Trump stressed the importance of a “fair deal” with China and indicated that a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping could occur on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea later this month.

Recent US-China tensions have intensified after Washington expanded tech restrictions and proposed tariffs on Chinese ships, prompting Beijing to introduce parallel measures and tighten export controls on rare earths. While China has claimed these measures will not disrupt normal trade flows, the United States remains wary, citing escalating sanctions and ongoing trade disputes.

By Vugar Khalilov