Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held a high-level video call with China's vice premier to prepare for the September visit of its president, Xi Jinping, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The call sets the stage for President Trump and Xi to sign future trade deals between the U.S. and China. Zoom in: The cordial video conference call between Bessent, Grier and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng lasted more than an hour. - "I emphasized that we expect Beijing to fully meet its commitments on rare earths and U.S. agricultural products," Bessent told Axios in a written statement. - "We also discussed implementation of the Trade and Investment Boards as a mechanism to secure concrete progress toward…
"Choke point" is having a moment. Why it matters: The term is an increasingly popular shorthand for the bottlenecks tying up the oil market and the AI buildout — and sometimes the entire economy — as the old global economic order gives way to intensifying competition and outright war. Where it stands: The latest choke point is in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has been routing more oil there via pipeline, bypassing the OG choke point in the Strait of Hormuz. - Now, Iranian-backed Houthi militants are targeting Saudi ships, threatening traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — which has seen increased oil flows, about 5.7% of the world's oil in the first three months of 2026, up from around 3.5% over the same period last year, according…
Analysts say a comparison of the readouts issued by the U.S. and China reveals "minor inconsistencies" on issues such as agriculture, tariffs and rare earths. But, experts argue, those differences are not significant.
President Trump is pushing for a strategic veto over future Chinese or Russian investments in Greenland. Reports have indicated that U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials have been holding quiet talks over a deal that would expand America’s foothold on the Arctic island while blocking Beijing and Moscow from gaining access to its mineral wealth. Greenland […] The post PRESIDENT TRUMP DEMANDS VETO POWER IN GREENLAND appeared first on StoneZone .
President Trump is pushing for a strategic veto over future Chinese or Russian investments in Greenland. Reports have indicated that U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials have been holding quiet talks over a deal that would expand America’s foothold on the Arctic island while blocking Beijing and Moscow from gaining access to its mineral wealth. Greenland is rich in rare earths, uranium, oil, and other critical minerals. These materials are vital for missiles, radar systems, fighter jets, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and next-generation communications. China currently dominates the global rare earth supply chain, producing about 70 percent of the world’s supply and controlling roughly 90 percent of processing capacity. That…Open
A central question hanging over the summit this week is whether China will agree to extend a temporary postponement of even tougher rare-earth export controls.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has spent the Iran war doing what he does best — patiently exploiting America's distraction and discord. Why it matters: The conflict allowed China to bolster its diplomatic leverage, clean-energy muscle and intelligence on the U.S. military — all without firing a shot or spending a dollar. - The implications touch supply chains, energy procurement, geopolitical risk, and the race for superior AI and weaponry. - Even with progress toward a framework for peace between the U.S. and Iran, significant disruptions continue in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic damage is done. The military impact is the part that should scare the hell out of Pentagon planners. - The U.S. committed roughly 80% of its…