China outlines more controls on exports of rare earths and technology
[October 09, 2025]
HONG KONG (AP) — China outlined new curbs on exports of rare earths and
related technologies on Thursday, extending controls over use of the
elements critical for many products ahead of a meeting later this month
between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The regulations announced by the Ministry of Commerce require foreign
companies to get special approval to export items that contain even
small traces of rare earths elements sourced from China.
Beijing also will impose permitting requirements on exports of
technologies related to rare earths mining, smelting, recycling and
magnet-making, it said.
China accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s rare earths mining. It also
controls roughly 90% of global rare earths processing. Access to such
materials is a key point of contention in trade talks between Washington
and Beijing.
As Trump has raised tariffs on imports of many products from China,
Beijing has doubled down on controls on the strategically vital
minerals, raising concerns over potential shortages for manufacturers in
the U.S. and elsewhere.
It was not immediately clear how China plans to enforce the new policies
overseas.
The critical minerals are used in a broad range of products, from jet
engines, radar systems and automotives to consumer electronics including
laptops and phones.
The new restrictions are to “better safeguard national security” and to
stop uses in “sensitive fields such as the military” that stem from rare
earths processed or sourced from China or from its related technologies,
the Commerce Ministry said.
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Workers use machinery to dig at a rare earth mine in Ganxian county
in central China's Jiangxi province on Dec. 30, 2010. (Chinatopix
via AP, File)
 It said some unnamed “overseas
bodies and individuals” had transferred rare earths elements and
technologies from China abroad for military or other sensitive uses
which caused “significant damage” to its national security.
The new curbs were announced just weeks ahead of an expected meeting
between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in late October on
the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in
South Korea.
“Rare earths will continue to be a key part of negotiations for
Washington and Beijing,” George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group,
said in an emailed comment. "Both sides want more stability but
there will be still a lot of noises before the two leaders,
President Trump and Xi, can make a final deal next year when they
meet. Those noises are all negotiation tactics.”
In April, Chinese authorities imposed export curbs on seven rare
earth elements shortly after Trump unveiled his steep tariffs on
many trading partners including China.
While supplies remain uncertain, China approved some permits for
rare earth exports in June and said it was speeding up its approval
processes.
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