Beijing pushes back on U.S. trade pressure over rare-earth controls

China has defended its expanded export restrictions on rare earth elements, calling the U.S. accusations hypocritical and insisting the curbs are legitimate. Beijing says the controls aim to protect sensitive technologies and refuse to equate them to blanket bans. The move comes amid U.S. threats of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, which have rattled global supply chains, especially for critical minerals used in tech and cleantech sectors. (Reuters)