'Fully and immediately': US urges China to honour trade commitments, flags concerns over rare earths and farm purchases

The trade agreement created commitments in several sensitive areas. China was expected to make agricultural purchases from the United States and support the continued flow of rare earths and other critical minerals. These promises mattered because they linked trade in farm goods with materials vital to modern industry.

The article gives no exact purchase targets or shipment schedules. It says US officials were especially concerned about agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals. Jamieson Greer said the United States was receiving rare earths, but not at the agreed volume or pace. Scott Bessent also called China’s agricultural delivery imperfect, while noting substantial soybean purchases.

Washington is now asking Beijing to take concrete steps and implement the agreement fully. The United States will focus on actual deliveries rather than assurances. The issue could shape the expected Trump-Xi meeting and the future of the wider trade truce.

For China, fulfilling the commitments “fully and immediately” means carrying out the promises without partial implementation or prolonged administrative delays. The focus is practical performance. That includes agricultural purchases and reliable shipments of rare earths and other critical minerals.

Scott Bessent said the United States would assess compliance based on tangible outcomes. Jamieson Greer similarly called for concrete steps. Greer reported that rare earths were reaching the United States, but not at the agreed volume or pace. Bessent also described agricultural delivery as imperfect, despite substantial soybean purchases.

This approach makes actual trade flows the key test. Washington is not treating general cooperation as sufficient. If deliveries remain below expectations, the disagreement could intensify before the Trump-Xi meeting and the November 10 expiration of certain tariff exclusions.

The article does not provide dependence figures. Established International Energy Agency estimates indicate that China accounts for about 60% of mined rare earth output and roughly 90% of rare-earth refining, though shares vary by element and year. For critical minerals more broadly, China is especially dominant in processing rather than every mining stage.

This distinction matters. A country may obtain ore from another supplier but still depend on China for refining, separation, components or intermediate products. China also has major positions in processing minerals used in batteries, electronics and other industrial goods. Dependence is therefore measured across the supply chain, not only at the mine.

The result is uneven global exposure. The United States, Europe and other economies are seeking new mines, processing plants, recycling systems and alternative suppliers. Those efforts take time, so China’s existing position continues to give it significant influence during trade disputes.

Agricultural purchases matter because they connect the trade agreement directly to American producers and China’s demand for farm goods. They also help Washington address broader concerns about trade imbalances. A promise to buy US crops can therefore become an important measure of whether the agreement is working.

The article identifies soybeans as the main example. When the truce was extended, Scott Bessent said China was making substantial purchases of US soybeans, but he still described delivery on certain commitments as imperfect. Jamieson Greer also said China needed to take concrete steps on agricultural purchases.

The disagreement is about reliability as well as total buying. If purchases arrive below expected levels, US farmers and officials may see the commitment as incomplete. Continued agricultural trade could support the truce, while delays may add pressure before the leaders’ expected meeting.

If the truce breaks down, tariffs could rise and trade restrictions could return or expand. Businesses would face less certainty about costs, orders and access to supplies. The article says industry groups view tariff exclusions as important for supply chains, while the administration wants to avoid pressure on the US economy.

The near-term mechanism is the expiration of exclusions for certain Chinese products on November 10. If they are not extended, affected imports could face higher tariffs. Companies may then absorb the extra cost, raise prices, change suppliers or delay investment. Disrupted rare-earth flows could create additional manufacturing problems.

The wider consequence would reach financial markets. The article warns that renewed uncertainty could revive fears of a prolonged Washington-Beijing trade conflict. Officials have not said whether the exclusions will continue, so the expected Trump-Xi meeting may become important for the truce’s future.

The article does not list alternative strategies. Based on established supply-chain practice, the United States can develop domestic mines and processing, work with allied suppliers, expand recycling, stockpile materials and support substitutes. Companies can also redesign products to use less of a constrained mineral.

The key mechanism is diversification. Buying from several countries reduces the damage if one supplier delays exports. Domestic refining and recycling reduce dependence on overseas processing. Stockpiles provide a buffer during interruptions, while substitution can lower demand for a particular material. None of these measures guarantees immediate replacement.

China’s existing supply-chain position means alternatives would take investment and time. That is why rare-earth commitments remain important during the current truce. If Chinese deliveries continue below the agreed pace, Washington and businesses may accelerate these efforts, while still facing short-term supply risks.

Rare earths and other critical minerals matter because modern economies use them in advanced manufacturing, electronics, energy equipment, transport and defence-related systems. The article specifically links them to trade negotiations and a continued flow of rare earths. Interruptions can therefore affect industries far beyond mining.

China’s leverage comes from its strong position in extraction, processing and related supply chains. Even when another country has access to ore, it may still need Chinese refining or intermediate products. Restricting or delaying exports can raise costs, slow production and pressure governments to adjust their trade positions.

The article shows this leverage in practice. US officials said rare earths were arriving, but not at the agreed volume or pace. Washington is pressing for concrete implementation while trying to manage differences. The dispute could influence the truce, tariff decisions and the expected Trump-Xi meeting.