In response to rising trade tensions, China has announced broad new export controls on critical rare earth minerals and technology, aiming to protect national security. This move is seen as an escalation in the ongoing trade war with the United States, where accusations of double standards have been exchanged between both nations. U.S. trade representatives have raised concerns that these restrictions threaten essential supply chains, particularly in the defense and technology sectors. As China aims to regulate exports more stringently, it has also expanded controls to include lithium-ion batteries. With both sides calling for dialogue amidst increasing geopolitical friction, the implications of these export curbs could reverberate throughout the global economy, affecting industries reliant on these vital resources.