近日，美國與中國在稀土問題上的摩擦再度升級，引發國際社會高度關注。據觀察者網報導，當地時間2025年10月12日，美國貿易代表贾米森·格里尔（Jamieson Greer）在接受福克斯新聞專訪時公開表示，美方對中國近期出台的稀土新規感到意外，稱中國在規範稀土出口前並未提前通知，且在美方希望溝通時，中方拒絕了美方的聯繫。格里尔形容，中方的舉措是一種“權力攫取”的行為，美方並未料到，對此感到非常不滿。

中國在全球稀土供應鏈中具有無可替代的地位。所謂“稀土”，指的是一組具有特殊磁性、光學及化學性能的金屬元素，廣泛應用於高科技產業，如電動車電池、風力發電機、智能手機以及軍事電子設備等。據統計，中國約佔全球稀土產量的60%至70%，並且其礦藏品質優良、加工能力成熟，形成了從開採、選礦到精煉的完整產業鏈。相比之下，其他國家雖然擁有稀土資源，但受限於礦產規模、技術能力以及環境保護規範，難以形成與中國相匹配的產業鏈，因此全球高度依賴中國供應。

近年來，中國政府為保障國內戰略資源安全及推動高附加值產業發展，對稀土出口進行了更嚴格的管控。包括設置出口配額、提高出口稅率，以及要求企業符合環保與安全標準。這些舉措在國際市場上引起了不小的反響，尤其是美國及其盟國高度依賴中國稀土，用於國防和尖端科技產品的生產。對美國而言，中國收緊稀土出口意味著供應鏈的不確定性增大，可能影響國防和高科技產業的穩定運作。

格里尔在採訪中透露，美方曾試圖與中方溝通，希望了解新規的出台背景及影響，但中方拒絕了美方的聯繫，這讓美國感到意外與不悅。他強調，美方將密切關注中國政策對全球供應鏈的影響，並考慮採取應對措施，包括尋找其他供應來源、增加國內稀土開採及精煉能力等。

這起事件反映出中美之間在戰略資源上的博弈正在升級，也暴露出全球高科技產業對中國稀土依賴的脆弱性。專家指出，中國對稀土的出口管控，不僅是經濟行為，也帶有一定的戰略意圖，旨在保障國家資源安全，並在國際談判中增強籌碼。而對美國而言，這既是供應鏈挑戰，也是對其產業自主能力和國防準備的一次警示。整體而言，稀土問題已不再單純是貿易爭端，更涉及國家安全、產業競爭以及國際戰略博弈，未來中美之間在此領域的互動仍將持續引發全球關注。

Recently, tensions between the United States and China over rare earth elements have escalated, drawing significant international attention. According to reports from Guancha.cn, on October 12, 2025, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spoke in an interview with Fox News, stating that the U.S. was “taken by surprise” by China’s recent introduction of new regulations on rare earth exports. Greer emphasized that China did not provide prior notice before implementing the rules and reportedly refused U.S. attempts to communicate, describing the move as an act of “power grab” that caught Washington off guard and caused considerable frustration.

China occupies an irreplaceable position in the global rare earth supply chain. Rare earth elements are a group of metals with unique magnetic, optical, and chemical properties, essential for high-tech industries such as electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, smartphones, and military electronics. China accounts for approximately 60–70% of global rare earth production and possesses high-quality mineral reserves and advanced processing capabilities, forming a complete industry chain from mining and separation to refining. Other countries, despite having some rare earth resources, cannot match China’s scale, technical expertise, or integrated production systems due to limitations in resource size, technology, and environmental regulations. As a result, the world remains heavily reliant on Chinese supply.

In recent years, the Chinese government has implemented stricter controls over rare earth exports to safeguard strategic resources and promote high-value industries. Measures include export quotas, higher export taxes, and requiring companies to meet environmental and safety standards. These policies have caused international concern, particularly for the United States and its allies, who depend heavily on Chinese rare earths for defense and high-tech manufacturing. For the U.S., China’s tighter export controls increase supply chain uncertainty, potentially affecting both defense production and the stability of high-tech industries.

Greer revealed in the interview that the U.S. had attempted to communicate with China to understand the rationale and potential impact of the new regulations, but China reportedly declined contact. This refusal surprised and displeased U.S. officials. Greer stated that the U.S. would closely monitor the impact of China’s policies on global supply chains and consider measures such as diversifying sources, increasing domestic rare earth mining and refining capabilities, and other strategic responses.

This incident underscores the ongoing strategic competition between China and the U.S. over critical resources and highlights the vulnerability of global high-tech industries to Chinese rare earth dominance. Experts note that China’s export controls are not purely economic measures; they also carry strategic intent to secure national resources and strengthen bargaining power in international negotiations. For the U.S., the situation poses both a supply chain challenge and a warning regarding industrial self-sufficiency and defense preparedness. Overall, rare earth issues have evolved beyond trade disputes, encompassing national security, industrial competition, and global strategic dynamics, making future China-U.S. interactions in this sector closely watched worldwide.