Fact Check: On June 11, 2025, U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached an agreement for Beijing to resume regular exports of rare earths to the United States.

Fact Check: "On June 11, 2025, U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached an agreement for Beijing to resume regular exports of rare earths to the United States."

What We Know

On June 11, 2025, U.S. and Chinese negotiators concluded high-level trade talks in London, which included discussions on China's export restrictions of rare earth elements. Following these talks, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that China would supply rare earth minerals to U.S. companies, a claim that was met with cautious optimism from various stakeholders in the industry (AP News). However, the details surrounding the agreement remain vague, and it is important to note that while China approved "a certain number" of export permits, it did not commit to resuming regular exports of rare earths at a scale that would alleviate U.S. dependency on Chinese supplies (Reuters, New York Times).

Analysis

The claim that an agreement was reached for Beijing to resume regular exports of rare earths is misleading. While there was a framework established during the trade talks, the specifics of the agreement do not guarantee a steady supply of rare earths to the U.S. market. According to reports, China has not committed to granting export clearance for certain specialized rare-earth magnets that are critical for U.S. military applications (Reuters). This indicates that while some permits may have been issued, the overall situation remains precarious and does not reflect a comprehensive resolution to the trade issues at hand.

Moreover, industry experts have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the agreement. Gabriel Wildau from Teneo noted that supply cutoffs will continue to pose a threat, as China's licensing regime for the export of heavy rare earths is likely to remain stringent (AP News). This perspective is echoed by Neha Mukherjee, a rare earths analyst, who pointed out that while some companies may have stockpiled materials, significant constraints could emerge if the situation persists (AP News).

The sources cited provide a mix of optimism and caution regarding the developments. While the announcement by Trump suggests a positive turn, the lack of concrete commitments from China and the ongoing restrictions indicate that the situation is far from resolved.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached an agreement for Beijing to resume regular exports of rare earths to the United States is misleading. While there was a framework established during the trade talks, the specifics do not support the assertion that regular exports will resume. The lack of commitment from China regarding the scale and nature of the exports, combined with ongoing export restrictions, suggests that the situation remains uncertain and does not fulfill the claim made.

Sources

1. Exclusive: US-China trade truce leaves military-use rare ...
2. Trump Administration Holds Trade Talks With China as Fight Over Rare ...
3. Trump says China will supply rare earths, US to allow ...
4. China grants rare earth export permits after US trade talks, ...
5. New China Trade 'Deal' Takes U.S. Back to Where It Started
6. Trump says U.S.-China trade deal is 'done'
7. US secures Chinese rare earths in 'done deal' as Trump revises tariffs
8. US, China reach framework deal to ease export restrictions