Markets tumble amid China’s threat to impose export controls on rare earth minerals

The news immediately caused a drop in equities and commodities, with soybeans down 20 percent in a matter of minutes.

China is currently rattling all of the markets right now. A short time ago, President Trump said China is becoming hostile and is threatening to impose export controls around the globe, on rare earth minerals.

The news immediately caused a drop in equities and commodities, with soybeans down 20 percent in a matter of minutes.

RFD-TV’s Tony St. James and market analyst Arlan Suderman of Stone X provide action and discuss what President Trump calls “a grave miscalculation.”

Related Stories
Rising adoption of GLP-1 drugs may gradually reshape food demand, with potential downstream effects on protein markets and consumer purchasing patterns.
Winter Weather, Drought Shape Early 2026 Farm Conditions
As domestic production and blending slowed, export demand remained a clear bright spot.
Protein markets are fragmenting. Beef is supply-driven and more structurally expensive, whereas pork and poultry remain price-competitive.
Tight fed supplies shift margin risk to packers, strengthening cattle price leverage but increasing volatility.
Reduced winter placements indicate tighter fed cattle supplies and greater leverage during peak-demand months.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

President Donald Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, addressing SNAP spending, tariff threats against Europe, market reactions, and the upcoming USMCA review.
From meatpacking settlements to landmark NEPA rulings, Roger McEowen outlines the top legal developments in 2025 that will shape agriculture in the years ahead.
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation joined us to review new policies and regulations supporting the dairy industry and what they mean for the year ahead.
Despite rising costs and growing food insecurity, meat demand remained strong in 2025 as higher-income consumers offset cutbacks elsewhere. Economists break down the K-shaped economy, upcoming USDA cattle reports, livestock production outlooks, and renewed debate over beef imports and country-of-origin labeling heading into 2026.
Corn growers are turning to ethanol, E15 expansion, and export markets to help absorb record supplies and stabilize prices. Farm leaders discuss low-carbon ethanol demand, flex-fuel vehicle challenges, input costs, and the role of USMCA as producers look for market relief in the year ahead.
From rising trade tensions in Europe to a pending Supreme Court decision on tariffs and shifting demand from China, global trade policy spearheaded by President Donald Trump continues to shape the outlook for U.S. agriculture—adding uncertainty as farmers navigate another volatile year.