Exposed: The U.S. Report Revealing China’s Covert Manipulation of Critical Minerals Prices
Washington takes direct aim at Beijing’s pricing power, alleging China’s manipulation of lithium and rare earth markets is threatening U.S. industry and national security.
The U.S. House of Representatives has accused China of deliberately manipulating global critical minerals markets to expand its industrial dominance and geopolitical leverage. The allegations, laid out in a 50-page bipartisan report by the U.S. House Select Committee on China and reviewed by Reuters, allege that Beijing has long used its near-monopoly on processing key materials like lithium and rare earths to distort prices and suppress competitors.
Washington Turns Up the Heat
The report represents a sharp escalation in Washington’s scrutiny of China’s role in global resource markets. Both President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden have pursued policies aimed at reducing reliance on China for critical minerals, which are essential for technologies ranging from electric vehicle batteries to advanced defense systems. The committee’s report now seeks to codify those executive actions into law, giving future administrations greater power to enforce price controls and tighten oversight of international price reporting mechanisms.
“China has a loaded gun pointed at our economy, and we must act quickly,” said Congressman John Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican and chair of the committee. Moolenaar, a chemist who previously worked at Dow Chemical, warned that China’s market behavior has cost American jobs, forced miners out of business, and placed U.S. national security at risk.
A Bipartisan Front Against Beijing
Notably, the report carries bipartisan weight. It was endorsed by Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, signaling rare cross-party unity on a national security issue. The committee alleges that Beijing’s manipulation extends far beyond trade tactics—it reaches into how prices are set globally. The report accuses China of using its overwhelming processing power to make it nearly impossible for the U.S. and its allies to determine true market prices for critical minerals, especially rare earths.

