When President Donald Trump unleashed a fresh wave of global tariffs, he made a calculated exception. Smartphones, laptops, semiconductors—items central to American life and largely made in China—were spared. The decision was a tactical reprieve for tech giants like Apple, Dell, and Nvidia, all heavily reliant on Chinese supply chains. But beneath this short-term relief lies a much bigger game: one of minerals, missiles, and magnets. China strikes back with critical minerals In a move that escalated tensions significantly, Beijing retaliated not just with words or reciprocal tariffs, but with something far more potent—rare earth elements.