... rare earths deal done with China ...

Not from where I sit.

What is different now than a couple three days ago?

From what I've seen... nothing.

So, what was really accomplished?

Perhaps, (and this is a guess) the US and China are agreeing that the old agreement (from a few weeks ago) is still their agreement.

But that is only a handshake agreement, so are they really agreeing about that?

And then the negotiators have said that before they can even agree on that old agreement, that they have to go back to Pres Xi and Pres Trump for approval.

And, this is a deal?