US Treasury Secretary Bessent Views China’s Rare Earth Strategy as Potential Misstep in Trade Dispute

• China’s rare earth export threats crossed a critical line, exposing its strategy and accelerating U.S. diversification efforts.

• Scott Bessent highlighted the personal impact of U.S.-China trade tensions on American agriculture, including soybeans.

• The TikTok deal with ByteDance is advancing following a Trump executive order, with a deadline extended to January 20, 2026, amid national security concerns.

Discover Scott Bessent’s insights on China’s rare earth misstep and U.S. trade responses, including soybean impacts and TikTok resolution. Stay informed on global economic shifts—read more now.

What did Scott Bessent say about China’s use of rare earths as a weapon?

China’s rare earths strategy represents a major miscalculation, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday, he explained that China erred by threatening to restrict exports of these critical minerals, disrupting a prior balance between the two nations. This action has prompted the U.S. and its allies to intensify searches for alternative sources, ensuring long-term supply security.

How has the U.S. responded to China’s rare earth export threats?

The U.S. views China’s move as an overreach that reveals vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Bessent warned that such tactics will no longer pressure trading partners effectively, as Washington accelerates domestic production and international partnerships. According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, China controls about 60% of global rare earth mining and 85% of processing, but recent investments in Australian and Canadian facilities aim to reduce this dependency by 2030. Experts like those at the Brookings Institution note that this escalation has unified U.S. policy on critical minerals, with bipartisan support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provisions funding alternative sourcing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What impact have U.S.-China trade tensions had on American soybean farmers?

U.S.-China trade tensions, including heavy tariffs imposed in May, have led China to halt purchases of American soybeans entirely, severely affecting farmers reliant on this export market. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a soybean farmer himself, acknowledged the personal and widespread pain, with U.S. soybean exports to China dropping from 31 million metric tons in 2017 to near zero recently, per USDA reports.

What’s the latest on the TikTok sale and U.S. national security measures?

The TikTok deal is progressing after President Trump’s executive order on September 25 confirmed it meets national security requirements under a 2024 law mandating ByteDance to divest U.S. assets by January 2025. With 170 million U.S. users, the agreement limits ByteDance to under 20% ownership and one board seat, while U.S. partners will oversee algorithm retraining— a smooth transition expected in the coming weeks.

Key Takeaways

• China’s rare earth strategy backfired: By threatening exports, China accelerated U.S. efforts to secure alternative supplies, diminishing its leverage in future trade disputes.
• Agricultural trade hits home: Soybean tariffs have blocked U.S. exports to China, impacting farmers like Bessent, though larger economic players like his $600 million net worth, per Forbes, cushion the blow for some.
• TikTok resolution nears: Finalized in Kuala Lumpur, the deal ensures U.S. control over the app’s operations, addressing security concerns despite lingering doubts from figures like Rep. John Moolenaar.

Conclusion

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s comments underscore the evolving dynamics of China’s rare earths strategy and broader U.S.-China trade frictions, from mineral dependencies to agricultural strains and tech divestitures like the TikTok agreement. As Washington pushes for supply chain resilience and national security safeguards, these tensions signal a new era of strategic decoupling, urging businesses and policymakers to prioritize diversification for sustained economic stability.

Scott Bessent’s interview with the Financial Times highlighted how China disrupted a delicate balance by threatening rare earth exports, a move he described as crossing a critical threshold. This has galvanized U.S. initiatives to explore mining in allied nations and invest in recycling technologies, reducing reliance on Beijing’s dominance. Bessent emphasized that the revelation of China’s willingness to weaponize these resources eliminates any prior assumptions of unrestricted access, prompting immediate policy shifts.

Turning to agriculture, Bessent shared a personal perspective during an ABC News interview with Martha Raddatz. As a landowner of North Dakota farmland valued between $5 million and $25 million, producing soybeans and corn with annual revenues of $100,000 to $1 million, he admitted to feeling the trade war’s effects firsthand. China’s tariffs, retaliating against U.S. duties on Chinese goods, have effectively barred American soybeans from its market—the largest buyer prior to the dispute. This embargo, ongoing for months, has devastated smaller farmers dependent on these sales, contrasting with Bessent’s financial buffer from his estimated $600 million net worth as reported by Forbes. The irony of the Treasury Secretary’s direct stake adds a human element to macroeconomic policies, illustrating how trade barriers ripple through rural economies.

Amid these developments, progress on the TikTok front offers a potential resolution to another flashpoint. In a Fox Business interview, Bessent confirmed that negotiations in Kuala Lumpur have culminated in a finalized agreement awaiting implementation. The protracted saga, spanning over 18 months, stems from a 2024 congressional law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent, to sell U.S. operations by January 2025 to mitigate data security risks. Trump’s September 25 executive order validated the proposal, extending the deadline to January 20, 2026, and granting 120 days for completion.

Key terms include ByteDance retaining less than 20% equity in the U.S. entity and securing only one of seven board seats, all others held by Americans. The app’s influential algorithm, central to its appeal for 170 million U.S. users, will undergo retraining under U.S. cybersecurity oversight, with control transferring to the new venture. However, skepticism persists; Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, expressed concerns over the algorithm licensing aspect. China’s Commerce Ministry has pledged cooperative handling, but U.S. resolve appears firm, prioritizing user privacy and preventing potential espionage.

These interconnected issues—rare earths, soybeans, and TikTok—exemplify the multifaceted U.S.-China rivalry, where economic tools intersect with security imperatives. Bessent’s insights, drawn from authoritative outlets like the Financial Times and Fox Business, reflect a administration committed to protecting American interests without unnecessary escalation.