Trump and Xi to meet at White House to discuss Taiwan and rare earth trade

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet at the White House on September 24 for their second summit of the year. Following a previous meeting focused on trade, this summit is expected to address the management of the bilateral relationship and critical resource dependencies.

Discussions are anticipated to involve the status of Taiwan and the use of rare earth elements in trade negotiations. China, a dominant supplier of yttrium, has previously implemented export controls on the element and six other rare earths, impacting the aerospace, energy, and semiconductor sectors. Yttrium is particularly vital for thermal barrier coatings in jet engines.

Observers have expressed concern regarding potential shifts in the U.S. policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ toward Taiwan. There are fears that diplomatic horse-trading could lead to concessions regarding Taiwan’s security, potentially impacting regional stability.