China Denies Violating Trade Truce Amid Rising Tensions

China's near-monopoly on rare earth elements has become a major obstacle in US trade negotiations, as Beijing restricts exports of key minerals essential for technology and military hardware, holding significant leverage over global supply chains and raising concerns about US national security and economic stability. Experts warn that this strategic control could lead to supply disruptions, prompting calls for increased domestic mining and international cooperation to reduce reliance on China.