Why the latest U.S.-China tech fight may be the biggest yet

Why the latest U.S.-China tech fight may be the biggest yet

From POLITICO Tech by POLITICO

October 16, 2025 · 22 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the escalating tensions between the U.S. and China in the tech sector, focusing on trade restrictions and their implications.

Tensions between the U.S. and China are inflamed yet again — with the tech sector in the crossfire. In the latest move, Beijing has threatened to restrict the trade of rare earth magnets and metals, which are critical for making high-tech products, from microchips to smartphones to electric vehicles. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly sits down with Liza Tobin, a geopolitical risk adviser and former China director on the National Security Council, to discuss the shaky state of the U.S.-China relationship and why the coming weeks will prove pivotal. Steven Overly is the host of POLITICO Tech and covers the intersection of politics and technology. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy and producer of POLITICO Tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Steven Overly

Guest: Liza Tobin

Topics covered

  • U.S.-China relations
  • technology
  • geopolitical risk
  • trade restrictions
  • rare earth metals

Keywords

  • U.S.-China tech fight
  • rare earth magnets
  • geopolitical risk
  • trade
  • high-tech products

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Security Council, POLITICO

Places: U.S., China

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