U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said President Donald Trump may still follow through with a threatened new 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods on Nov. 1—or even sooner—depending on Beijing’s next move in an escalating trade dispute over rare earth mineral supplies.
“A lot depends on what the Chinese do,” Greer told CNBC in an Oct. 14 interview. “They are the ones who have chosen to make this major escalation.”
Greer’s remarks came amid elevated tensions after China expanded export controls on Oct. 9, adding five new rare earth elements and dozens of processing technologies to its restricted list. The move triggered alarm in Washington, where officials view Chinese control over the supply of critical minerals as a strategic vulnerability….