President Trump has threatened to cancel a meeting with China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, who spoke at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing on Monday.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, left, with the U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer. Mr. Bessent said the United States must become less reliant on China for rare-earth minerals.
The president is threatening to widen his trade war against China as tariffs on timber, lumber, kitchen cabinets and other products took effect on Tuesday.
The president made the threat after Beijing imposed new global restrictions on the use of rare earth minerals, which are vital supplies for U.S. makers of chips and batteries.
An executive of a Singaporean firm called Megaspeed socialized with Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. Now the company is being scrutinized by U.S. officials for its ties to China.
The decision is a big blow to President Trump’s trade policies, but the judges left the duties in place for now to allow time for a likely appeal to the Supreme Court.
The president’s steep tariffs and erratic moves have turned manufacturing abroad into a minefield, even for entrepreneurs who set up in countries viewed as safe alternatives to China.