Editorial: Le Monde

• There was a meeting between the U.S. President, Donald Trump, and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
• Trump rated the meeting with Xi as 'extraordinary,' while the Chinese leader did not give any public comment.
• China controls the extraction of essential minerals for digital technologies and defense industry, which gives it significant power over global production chains.
• After China threatened to impose restrictions on rare earth exports, Trump softened his confrontational tone.
• China has demonstrated its adaptability by diversifying its trading relationships, thus reducing its dependence on the United States.
• The issue of U.S. restrictions on exports of microprocessors crucial for the development of artificial intelligence remains unresolved.

Conclusion: Despite there being no clear winner at this junction, it is clear that Trump underestimated his adversary. This could indicate a need for a shift in U.S. strategy towards China, which could include forming a united front with its European and Asian allies.

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