US-China Trade War Escalates

Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China, on Oct. 31, 2010. Stringer/Reuters

The U.S.–China trade war has unfolded like a boxing match. Both sides were trading blows, and suddenly, China threw a haymaker.

It expanded its export controls of rare earths to include any products that contain 0.1 percent of Chinese rare earth content or use Chinese technology in the production process. Beijing made the announcement on Oct. 9. The new measures will take effect on Dec. 1.