Trump and Xi to talk China trade war after US president rages over rare-earths restriction

Source: New York Post

WASHINGTON — President Trump plans to speak by phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping sometime this week after tensions flared up over Beijing’s continued export restrictions on rare-earth elements used for batteries, industrial magnets and high-tech equipment. Trump, who vented about the status of a preliminary tariff-reducing pact on Friday, is not expected to speak with Xi Monday, a White House official confirmed to The Post. China controls most global processing for 17 metallic rare earths, which have economically significant applications for items like lasers, wind turbines and electric cars.