China Expands Rare Earth Export Controls, Targeting Foreign Manufacturers

China is expanding its rare earth export controls to include foreign-manufactured items, requiring foreign exporters to secure licenses, escalating tensions with Washington.

• On Thursday, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that foreign manufacturers must obtain export licenses for items that incorporate rare earth elements sourced from China.
• These new restrictions represent a significant escalation in China's already stringent rare earth export controls, which have been a point of contention with the United States.
• The export license requirement will impact technologies related to rare earth extraction and the manufacturing of magnets, critical components in various high-tech industries.