The Daily

Is China Beating Trump?

629 snips
Oct 29, 2025
Keith Bradsher, the Beijing bureau chief for The New York Times and an expert on China's economy, dives into the escalating U.S.–China trade standoff. He discusses China's recent restrictions on rare-earth exports, which could disrupt global supply chains. Bradsher highlights key negotiation points like soybeans and semiconductors, and warns of serious implications for the U.S. and Europe. He also predicts that the upcoming Trump-Xi talks may yield only temporary agreements, emphasizing China's strategic timing and potential risks in the long run.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Tense Moment Between Superpowers

  • U.S.-China relations are at one of their tensest moments in years with threats bordering on economic warfare.
  • There is urgent pressure on leaders to reach a deal to pull both countries back from the brink.
INSIGHT

Negotiations Center On Four Big Issues

  • Key disputes include soybeans, fentanyl precursor chemical exports, semiconductor access, and pressure over Taiwan.
  • Rare earth metals loom as an overarching bargaining chip affecting many industries and military supplies.
INSIGHT

China Tightens Rare-Earth Controls

  • China expanded export controls on rare earths on October 9, adding patent and equipment limits and broader material coverage.
  • The rules make it much harder for the West to build mines, refineries, or magnet factories independent of China.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app