China now requires overseas exporters using its rare earths to get licenses, tightening control over a sector central to global tech supply chains.
The curbs extend to magnets, extraction tech, and recycling. Military uses are mostly banned, while semiconductor exports need case-by-case approval.
Rare earths are critical for defense, autos, and high-tech industries. China supplies 70% of the world’s demand, giving it strong leverage globally.
The minerals have long been a flashpoint in the US-China trade war, with Beijing using its dominance to push back against Washington.
These new rules come just before Xi and Trump’s expected meeting, raising fears of fresh tensions even as both nations pursue a wider trade deal.
