Summary
China has announced tighter export controls on certain rare-earth metals, citing national security reasons. This move comes ahead of a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump and affects materials crucial for technology and defense industries. Companies will need special approval to export these items from China starting December 1.
Key Facts
- China tightened export controls on five more rare-earth metals: holmium, erbium, thulium, europium, and ytterbium.
- Earlier this year, China restricted exports on seven other rare-earth metals: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium.
- Rare-earth metals are vital for technology products like electric cars and military equipment.
- China processes about 90% of the world's rare-earth metals and mines about 60%.
- New export restrictions require special approvals from China for foreign companies wanting to export specified rare-earth elements.
- These changes will mostly take effect from December 1.
- China says these restrictions are to protect national security because the materials have both civilian and military uses.
- The announcement comes before a planned meeting between President Xi and President Trump at an upcoming economic summit.
