US and China Finalize Rare Earth Trade Deal Amid Rising Tariffs and Rights Concerns
London – The United States and China have reached a new trade agreement that includes the supply of rare earth minerals and industrial magnets to the US, according to President Donald Trump. In return, the US will grant access to Chinese students seeking to study at American universities.
The deal, which Trump announced on Wednesday via social media, awaits final approval from both leaders. “Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me,” he wrote.
As part of the agreement, the US will impose a 55% tariff on Chinese imports — up from the previous 30% — while China will implement a 10% tariff on American goods. Trump emphasized that rare earth materials will be delivered upfront.
Senior US and Chinese officials reached the deal after two days of negotiations in London aimed at reviving strained trade talks.
Concerns Over Human Rights in Chinese Mineral Supply Chains
The announcement came as a new report from Global Rights Compliance, a Netherlands-based human rights organization, warned that global brands may be linked to forced labor practices in China’s Xinjiang region. The report alleges that companies sourcing minerals like titanium, lithium, beryllium, and magnesium from Xinjiang risk exposure to coercive labor programs involving Uyghur and Turkic Muslim minorities.
Among the 77 Chinese suppliers identified in the report, several are said to participate in so-called “labour transfer programs.” These programs are widely criticized by human rights groups as part of a broader policy of forced assimilation and mass detention.
Global brands named in the report include Avon, Walmart, Nescafe, Coca-Cola, and Sherwin-Williams, though none have responded publicly to the allegations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the claims, stating that “no one has ever been forcibly transferred in China’s Xinjiang under work programs.”
The developments highlight the complex intersection of trade, human rights, and global supply chain ethics.
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