WASHINGTON -- The United States and China have reached an agreement — again — to deescalate trade tensions. But details are scarce, and the latest pact leaves major issues between the world's two biggest economies unresolved.

The U.S. and China have agreed on the framework for a trade deal, both nations say. It appears that rare earth minerals are one key part of it.

Donald Trump said on Thursday the US and China had signed a trade deal, two weeks after saying they had reached an understanding in London about how to implement a truce in the countries’ dispute. “We just signed with China yesterday,” the US president said at the White House on Thursday, without providing any details.