How did China respond to the US trade tariffs, and what strategic resources were involved?

China responded to US trade tensions by strategically restricting exports of critical materials. After Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on Chinese products, Beijing retaliated by tightening export controls on 25 rare earth minerals specifically for shipments to the United States. This response highlighted China's leverage in the rare earth mineral market, which are essential elements for modern technology and national security applications. The restriction of these strategic resources represented a calculated countermeasure in the ongoing trade conflict between the two economic powers, demonstrating how natural resources can become powerful geopolitical tools.