Thu, 09 Oct 2025

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 China tightens export rules for crucial rare earths

The announcement comes ahead of a meeting between China's President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump later this month.

* China has tightened its rules on the export of rare earths, a group of 17 essential elements used in high-tech products.
* New regulations announced by China's Ministry of Commerce aim to "safeguard national security" and formalize existing rules on processing technology and unauthorized overseas cooperation.
* China will likely block exports to foreign arms manufacturers and some semiconductor firms.
* The regulations restrict the export of technologies related to mining, smelting, separation, magnetic material manufacturing, recycling, and assembly of production equipment.
* Chinese companies are banned from working with foreign companies on rare earths without government permission.
* The move could impact the US, which has a significant rare earths mining industry but lacks processing facilities.
* China's near-monopoly on rare earth extraction and refining will continue, with the country accounting for 61% of production and 92% of processing.
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