Fact Check: "On June 11, 2025, U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached an agreement to resume regular exports of rare earths from China to the U.S."
What We Know
On June 11, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached with China regarding trade, which included the supply of rare earths and magnets from China to the U.S. Trump stated that "full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China" (source-3). However, the details of the agreement were vague, and it was reported that while there was a handshake agreement to ease some trade tensions, the specifics regarding the resumption of regular exports of rare earths were not clearly defined (source-1).
The negotiations were described as a return to a status quo rather than a significant breakthrough, with tariffs remaining in place and no clear commitment from China to ensure regular exports of rare earths (source-3). Reports indicated that while there was a temporary truce, the issue of military-use rare earths remained unresolved (source-1).
Analysis
The claim that U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached an agreement to resume regular exports of rare earths is misleading. While President Trump proclaimed a deal that included the supply of rare earths, the actual negotiations did not result in a clear and actionable plan for regular exports. The agreement was characterized more as a truce to de-escalate tensions rather than a definitive resolution to the trade issues surrounding rare earths (source-5).
Furthermore, the reports indicate that the agreement did not address the critical concerns regarding military-use rare earths, which remain a contentious issue. Analysts have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the negotiations, suggesting that they merely returned the U.S. and China to a previous state of affairs without making substantial progress (source-1, source-4).
The reliability of the sources reporting on this matter varies. Major news outlets like The New York Times and BBC provide credible coverage, while the specific claims made by Trump should be viewed with caution, as they may be influenced by political motivations (source-3, source-5).
Conclusion
The claim that U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached an agreement to resume regular exports of rare earths from China to the U.S. on June 11, 2025, is False. The negotiations resulted in a vague agreement that did not clearly establish a framework for regular exports, particularly concerning military-use rare earths, which remain unresolved. The situation reflects a temporary truce rather than a substantive resolution to the ongoing trade conflict.
Sources
- Exclusive: US-China trade truce leaves military-use rare ...
- Trump says China will supply rare earths, US to allow ...
- New China Trade 'Deal' Takes U.S. Back to Where It Started
- Trump Administration Holds Trade Talks With China as Fight Over Rare ...
- US President Donald Trump says rare earths deal 'done' with China - BBC
