Trump Aide Bessent Calls India ‘Ally’ As US Seeks Support Against China’s Rare Earth Restrictions

Last Updated:October 15, 2025, 07:08 IST

While the US calls India an essential partner in securing strategic resources, steep American tariffs on Indian goods remain in place.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. (Photo: AFP file)

As competition for critical minerals intensifies, the United States has reached out to India and Europe for support in curbing China’s dominance over rare earth supplies. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged allied nations to coordinate a response to Beijing’s newly announced export controls, restrictions that Washington fears could endanger global manufacturing and defence supply chains.

His statement comes at a delicate moment. While the US calls India an essential partner in securing strategic resources, steep American tariffs on Indian goods remain in place, casting doubt on Washington’s diplomacy.

What did Scott Bessent say?

Speaking to Fox News, Bessent said Washington was in touch with allies to resist Beijing’s “provocative" moves. “We expect to have support from India and the Europeans," he said, adding that the United States was asserting its sovereignty in response to China’s new export restrictions on critical minerals.

The timing, however, has raised eyebrows. The US has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, even as it seeks New Delhi’s help in reshaping supply chains. India’s limited rare earth reserves and weak refining capacity also pose challenges to any meaningful partnership.

US-China trade tensions

Bessent’s remarks came after Beijing announced sweeping new export controls on rare earths – elements vital to electronics, clean energy technologies, and defence systems. The US Treasury Secretary accused China of “financing war" and “making provocative moves" to destabilise the global economy.

“This is China versus the rest of the world," Bessent declared. “They’ve pointed a bazooka at the supply chain of the free world. We’re not going to have it."

Shuddhanta Patra

Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public...Read More

Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public...

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News world Trump Aide Bessent Calls India ‘Ally’ As US Seeks Support Against China’s Rare Earth Restrictions

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