China’s top economic planner refuses to rule out playing rare earths card

China’s top economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), has once again declined to rule out the use of rare earths against the United States in the ongoing trade war as relations between the two sides continue to deteriorate, reported the South China Morning Post.

China, which makes up 90% of the global supply of rare earths, is “promptly studying” measures to utilize the “special value of rare earths as a strategic resource,” said Meng Wei, a spokeswoman for the NDRC.

“We firmly oppose anyone who wants to use products made from China’s rare earth resources to curb China’s development,” Meng said, repeating an ambiguous warning the agency used late last month when asked whether the metals would become part of the trade war.