Trade Representative Jamison Greer said on Sunday that the U.S. reached out to China for a phone call following an announcement that it was expanding its rare earths export controls but Beijing deferred, while China accused the U.S. of what it called "double standards."
"I can tell you that we were not notified, and quickly, as soon as we found out from public sources, we reached out to the Chinese to have a phone call, and they deferred," Greer told Fox News’ "Sunday Briefing," while calling China’s move "a power grab."
U.S. President Donald Trump responded on Friday to China’s expansion by imposing 100% tariffs on China’s U.S.-bound exports, along with new export controls on "any and all critical software" by November 1.
"Highly respected President Xi just had a bad moment. He doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.
The Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately return a request for comment.
