中国掐断稀土供应后，美国彻底绝望，没料到中方手里还握了一个软肋

Group 1 - The Chinese government has implemented export control measures on seven types of rare earth elements to better safeguard national security and fulfill international obligations [1] - The U.S. has a significant dependency on imported tungsten, with over 50% net import reliance from 2018 to 2022, and 58% of these imports coming from China [1] - The tightening of rare earth exports by China has led to illegal smuggling activities, with criminals employing various methods to evade regulations [2] Group 2 - China's regulatory framework for rare earths is reshaping international trade rules, with significant impacts on U.S. military contractors like Northrop Grumman, which reported a $477 million loss due to rising rare earth costs [4] - The U.S. is considering reducing punitive tariffs from 145% to a range of 50%-54% in exchange for China easing its rare earth export controls [4][6] - The U.S. has struggled to establish a complete rare earth supply chain, relying heavily on China for processing, which has been a persistent issue for over a decade [6][10] Group 3 - Ongoing negotiations between China and the U.S. are focused on rare earth export controls, with China emphasizing the need to combat smuggling and regulate exports as essential for resource security [10] - The current geopolitical climate has shifted since previous trade negotiations, with China now having a more robust regulatory framework and a stronger position in the rare earth supply chain [7]