{
  "id": 9383217,
  "title": "Handelskonflikt: Pekings neue Waffen im Handelskrieg: So baut China sein Vergeltungsarsenal aus",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/handelskonflikt-pekings-neue-waffen-im-handelskrieg-so-baut-china",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-23T17:50:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/handelskonflikt-china-baut-sein-vergeltungsarsenal-aus/100251195.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "China has amassed a vast arsenal of retaliation weapons in its trade war with the United States, driven by its rare earth element monopoly. These critical minerals are essential for many industries, and Beijing has demonstrated its willingness to use them as a political pressure tool. In April last year, China abruptly halted exports of rare earths and permanent magnets, causing production bottlenecks in the US and Europe. While Chinese officials may not have been fully aware of the extent of the impact, they have since used the supply of rare earths and magnets as a deliberate tactic against the US, EU, and Japan. The bureaucratic hurdles to exporting these materials make it difficult for companies to build up reserves, reducing their dependence on China. The European Chamber of Commerce in China has called for a transparent and clear procedure for obtaining export licenses. China's exports of rare earth magnets to the US fell by 20% in August compared to the previous month and were 13% lower than a year ago, according to Chinese export statistics. The export controls have proven highly effective in Beijing's eyes, and the government is using them as leverage in talks. The talks between Trump and Xi in Washington, DC, also center on extending the production moratorium, which they agreed to in October in Busan, South Korea. Trump agreed to temporarily suspend the additional tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, while Xi agreed to postpone the planned extraterritorial expansion of rare earth exports for a year and allow the resumption of exports. The export controls are part of China's defensive arsenal, built in response to Trump's tariffs and sanctions, which caught Beijing off guard. In response, China has been expanding its defensive arsenal since spring, introducing new laws and regulations that grant Beijing extraterritorial legal influence to counter sanctions, particularly those imposed by the US.",
  "summary": "Mit den Exportbeschränkungen für seltene Erden hat Xi Trump an den Verhandlungstisch gezwungen. Nun erweitert Peking sein Abwehrinstrumentarium – mit Folgen für deutsche Unternehmen.",
  "key_points": [
    "China amassed vast arsenal of retaliation weapons in trade war with US.",
    "Rare earth elements monopoly drives China's punitive arsenal.",
    "Export controls effective, used as leverage in talks."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Handelskonflikt: Verordnungen Nummer 834 und 835: Pekings neue Waffen im Handelskrieg",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/handelskonflikt-verordnungen-nummer-834-und-835-pekings-neue-waffen",
        "published": "2026-09-23T17:50:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}