WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The United States is seeking support from India and other allies amid rising tensions with China over rare earth minerals, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday. The trade dispute has intensified after Beijing tightened export controls on these critical materials, which are essential for advanced manufacturing and military technology.
In an interview with Fox Business on October 13, Bessent described the situation as “China versus the world.” He said China has aimed a “bazooka at the supply chains and the industrial base of the entire free world,” signaling growing concern over global access to rare earths.
“China is a command-and-control economy. They are neither going to command nor control us. We are going to assert our sovereignty in various ways,” Bessent said.
Bessent emphasized that Washington has been actively engaging its allies. “We have already been in touch with the allies. We will be meeting with them this week, and I expect that we will get substantial global support from the Europeans, from the Indians, from the democracies in Asia,” he said. He described the situation as a global challenge that requires a coordinated response.
The Treasury Secretary also warned that the U.S. will not tolerate China’s export restrictions. “Everything is on the table,” to respond, he said. Earlier this summer, the U.S. imposed 12 countermeasures targeting Chinese exports that affected resources used in jet engines and other industrial applications. Bessent suggested that China may have grounded parts of its civilian fleet due to these actions, highlighting the leverage the U.S. holds.
China controls roughly 70% of global rare earth mining and nearly 90% of processing capacity. Last week, Beijing announced new fees on U.S. ships as part of its tightened export rules. Washington has expanded its own regulations in response, fueling concerns over a deepening trade dispute.
The U.S. has imposed 55% tariffs on Chinese goods. In a related development, former President Donald Trump threatened to levy 100% tariffs on Chinese imports if Beijing did not ease restrictions on rare earth exports. Trump’s post on Truth Social sought to reassure markets, stating, “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine!” He added that the U.S. aims to help China, not harm it.
Bessent criticized Beijing’s actions as provocative, saying the U.S. is pushing for global peace while accusing China of financing war. “Trying to get leverage in front of a meeting with Donald Trump is a bad idea,” he said, referencing an upcoming meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month.
While the U.S. seeks Indian support against China, tensions with Delhi remain over other trade issues. The Trump administration has imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25% on Indian purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total U.S. duties on Indian imports to 50%. India has criticized these tariffs as “unjustified and unreasonable.”
Despite these frictions, Bessent signaled that India remains a key partner in addressing China’s growing influence over global rare earth supply chains. “This is a global problem,” he said, “and I think our global allies will follow us on this.”
Trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing have been ongoing since April, with a temporary truce set to expire on November 10. Experts warn that rare earths, critical for electronics, defense, and renewable energy, are at the center of a geopolitical struggle that could shape global supply chains for years to come.
