Washington / London – June 11, 2025:
In a significant breakthrough following marathon negotiations in London, US President Donald Trump today announced a preliminary trade framework with China. The deal—pending final approval from both Trump and President Xi Jinping—includes commitments on rare earth minerals, student visas, and a new tariff structure (business-standard.com).
🔋 Rare Earths and High-Tech Supply Chain
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China will resume supplying "full magnets and any necessary rare earths" upfront to the U.S., addressing critical shortages that affected sectors like defense, electronics, and electric vehicles (business-standard.com).
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U.S. firms such as Tesla and Ford have experienced delays due to past Chinese restrictions. The agreement seeks to stabilize this fragile supply chain (wsj.com).
💰 Tariff Structure: Still High, But Negotiated
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The U.S. will impose a 55% total tariff on Chinese imports: 10% baseline "reciprocal,” 20% on fentanyl precursor goods, and 25% from existing Trump-Era tariffs (reuters.com).
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China will respond with a 10% tariff on U.S. exports .
🎓 Student Visas Included
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The U.S. will lift restrictions on Chinese students studying in American universities—reversing earlier visa curbs targeting tech-related fields—a key component of the deal (apnews.com).
🕊️ From Geneva to London: Reviving a Fraught Truce
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This framework revives a 90-day tariff truce struck in Geneva in May, which had stalled due to disputes over rare earth exports and U.S. semiconductor restrictions (reuters.com).
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the agreement as giving “meat on the bones” of the Geneva accord and noted both nations will seek formal sign-off from their presidents (m.economictimes.com).
⚠️ Human Rights Concerns
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Trade groups and rights organizations raised alarms about potential forced labor in Xinjiang connected to rare earth extraction. Their concerns may complicate final implementation (apnews.com).
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article reflects the latest publicly announced details and preliminary terms of the US–China trade framework as of June 11, 2025. The deal remains subject to official ratification by both countries. Until finalized, terms—including tariffs, rare earth supply, and visa policies—are provisional and may change.
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