China Restricts Critical Minerals to Western Defense Companies

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

News, Daily News

4 • 4K Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2025

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A.M. Edition for Aug 4. China has gained leverage over the U.S. military supply chains by choking off the exports of critical minerals to Western defense companies. The WSJ’s Jon Emont explains how these restrictions from China will have significant consequences for the U.S. military. Plus, the Trump administration defends the president’s decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, following Friday’s weaker-than-expected jobs numbers. And, dozens of Texas House Democrats flee the state in a bid to block Republican plans to redraw the state’s congressional map. Azhar Sukri hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Race the rudder, raise the sails, raise the sales!
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0:21.4	To get £100 off your first campaign, go to LinkedIn.com slash lead to claim your credit.
0:26.6	That's LinkedIn.com slash lead. Terms and conditions apply.
0:32.9	The Trump administration doubles down on its move to fire a top labor statistician,
0:39.5	plus pressure amounts on Israel to end the war in Gaza after Hamas releases videos of emaciated hostages.
0:46.5	Those videos basically create pressure on the government by whipping up a lot of anger and frustration
0:52.3	within the Israeli population, which they hope will press the Israeli government to give into their demands.
0:57.6	And China is squeezing the supplies of key minerals for the U.S. defense industry.
1:03.4	It's Monday, August 4th.
1:05.2	I'm Azhar Sukri for the Wall Street Journal.
1:08.0	Here is the AM edition of What's News,
1:12.8	the top headlines and business stories moving your world today.
1:17.9	The Trump administration has defended the president's controversial move to fire the head
1:23.7	of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following Friday's weaker than expected job number.
1:29.6	Trump's chief economic advisor Kevin Hassett told NBC's meet the press
1:33.9	that the dismissal is part of Trump's plan for further changes at the agency.
1:39.6	The president wants his own people there so that when we see the numbers,
1:43.0	they're more transparent and more
	...

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