Why China’s rare earth exports are a key issue in trade tensions with US

Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China, on October 31, 2010 [Reuters]

China’s export of rare earth elements is central to the trade deal struck this week with the United States.

Beijing has a virtual monopoly on the supply of the critical minerals, which are used to make everything from cars to drones and wind turbines.