President Donald Trump issued a forceful warning on August 25, 2025, saying that the United States expects China to supply rare-earth magnets—or risk facing a steep 200 percent tariff. Addressing reporters at the White House, Trump stated bluntly: “They have to give us magnets. If they don’t give us magnets, then we have to charge them 200 percent tariff or something.”
The comment came amid rising tensions over trade, particularly involving rare-earth minerals—key components in everything from electric vehicles and drones to electronics and defense systems. China, which holds significant sway over global rare-earth supplies, had responded earlier in the year by adding magnets to its list of restricted exports in retaliation for U.S. tariff increases.
Trump’s statement underscored how critical these materials have become in geopolitics. By tying trade access to magnet supply, he aimed to exert pressure on Beijing, while signaling that Washington still holds powerful leverage in ongoing trade negotiations—even as a provisional truce remains in place.