Ambassador Jamieson Greer didn’t mince words when he told Americans that Beijing’s recent behavior toward critical industries is unacceptable and will be met with a firm response. The U.S. Trade Representative warned that attempts to dominate key sectors through coercion will not be tolerated and that Washington is prepared to act “appropriately” to defend American jobs and partners.
This warning comes amid reports that China has moved to tighten export controls on rare earths and critical minerals — a move that could choke off vital inputs for everything from electric vehicles to defense electronics. Those controls, and targeted sanctions affecting U.S.-linked units of firms like Hanwha Ocean, have already rattled allies and threatened to undermine joint shipbuilding and industrial projects.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ambassador Greer have publicly condemned these steps as economic coercion, and the administration has not ruled out steep countermeasures, including tariffs and other tools to secure supply chains. Talk of price floors, forward buying, and even punitive duties is on the table because the United States cannot let Beijing weaponize essential materials against us or our partners.
Let’s be blunt: China’s decision to leverage its market dominance to intimidate American industry and allies is the very definition of bad-faith behavior. It is unconscionable that a foreign power believes it can threaten our economy while expecting us to sit quietly — and Greer is right to call it out and to prepare a proportional response that protects American workers and national security.
Conservative policy demands follow action: we should double down on rebuilding domestic manufacturing, secure diversified supply chains with trusted allies, and keep tariffs and trade remedies on the table until China stops using its industrial muscle to bully the world. Weakness invites aggression; strength and clear consequences restore balance and safeguard the prosperity of hardworking Americans.
Congress and the American people must back officials like Ambassador Greer in this fight. If Washington stands united — prioritizing national interest over cheap imports and globalist appeasement — we can force China to play by fair rules or face the long-term consequence of being shut out of the markets they’ve abused.
