Sharp China with Bill Bishop (Preview) Q&A on the Trade War: Rare Earths Anxiety, PRC Motivations, Mutual Risks, and the Capitulation or Escalation Era
Oct 14, 2025
The discussion kicks off with China's new export controls on rare earths, provoking global concern. Trump's reaction highlights the stakes, questioning whether his tweets are strategic or merely trolling. Bill explains that China's clarifications on the controls might not ease worries. The hosts ponder if Xi's decision could be seen as a tactical error, possibly provoking a stronger US response. They also debate the implications of these measures on global supply chains and whether China is overplaying its hand in this high-stakes economic chess game.
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The 'Bad Moment' Tweet Was Trolling
- Trump’s Sunday post was intended as trolling and not a signal of weakness.
- Bill Bishop and Andrew Sharp discuss that the tweet aimed to provoke rather than concede.
Clarification Isn’t A Reversal
- China clarified but did not rescind its export control regime, preserving leverage over trade.
- Bill Bishop warns the clarification was spin, not a substantive reversal of power.
China Counts On U.S. Political Pain
- The U.S. faces real risk of escalation because China expects the US to cave politically.
- Bill Bishop says markets may see more volatility and a resolution without U.S. toughness is hard to see.