Trump says Chinas Xi will allow rare earth minerals to flow to US

WASHINGTON, June 6 – U.S.President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to let rare earth minerals and magnets flow to the United States, a move that could lower tensions between the world’s biggest economies.Asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One whether Xi had agreed to do so, Trump replied: “Yes, he did.”The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Trump’s comment came one day after a rare call with Xi aimed at resolving trade tensions that have been brewing over the topic for weeks.At that time, Trump said there had been “a very positive conclusion” to the talks, adding that “there should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products.”In another sign of easing tensions over the issue, China has granted temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top three U.S.

automakers, two sources familiar with the matter said.The U.S.president’s top aides are set to meet their Chinese counterparts in London on Monday for further talks.“We’re very far advanced on the China deal,” Trump told reporters on Friday....