Oct 28, 2025
3 min read
China's control of rare earths such as samarium and dysprosium, vital for military and technological production, gives Beijing enormous global power
More than a year ago, China created a comprehensive law to protect the export of minerals that the rest of the world cannot live without.These elements with old names called Minerals, many of them are called rare metals, are important for the manufacture of military products and automobiles to semiconductors and cars.
Export controls give Beijing a huge advantage because China is the dominant supplier.Earth, such as Samarium, is a rare earth metal used in many military applications.
Also read: China's rare earth restrictions aim to beat US at its own game
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China is the only country that owns the difficult art of purifying dysprosium: a high-speed factory near Shanghai supplies the necessary supplies.
Perhaps the most important: China makes 90% of the world's rare earth magnets, used in electronics and electric motors.It is the only producer of certain types of small magnets used in cars.
Beijing first announced the new rules late last year.Authorities suspended shipments to the United States of the four metal elements, but not yet rare, because it changed after Washington imposed the highest export restrictions on the highest semiconductors in the highest semiconductors in the highest semiconductors in China.
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Since then, China has used export controls to further tighten access to its rare earths.
Prohibition has become a sticking point for major companies and the US government.They are expected to be discussed on Thursday on the 30th, when President Donald Donald will meet with the Chinese leader xi jinping.
U.S. applicants have expressed hope.
This will create an adventure in China's critical minerals.
Chronology of Chinese export controls
1 October 2024
Beginner rifle: detailed documentation requirements
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China is starting to demand the defeat of the world to get more information from foreign customers in the production of chains that will be used.
The result: The rule gives the Commerce Department a comprehensive road map of the types and amounts of rare earths companies around the world need.
December 3, 2024
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Blocking the four earth minerals of the earth
China is suspending exports to the US of four non-rare earth elements.The Commerce Department is restricting any additional shipments of gallium or germanium needed to make certain types of semiconductors and shipments of antimony or tungsten used in ammunition and other military applications.
As a result: For the first time, China is not only exporting to the United States, but also banned companies in other countries from our employees.
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April 4, 2025
Export control of certain rare earth metals and magnets
China has imposed export restrictions on seven of the 17 rare earth metals and magnets made from them, halting shipments to all countries, not just the United States.Over the next two months, the Ministry of Commerce approved several export licenses.Automakers and their suppliers in the United States, Europe and Japan are running out of inventory and in some cases production is behind schedule.the rate of issuance accelerates during the summer, but there is still a large shortage in many foreign factories.
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The result: More than six months later, exports of samarium, a rare earth element vital for military magnets, remain suspended.For six other items and magnets, China issued six-month licenses.Many of these licenses will soon be up for renewal.
October 9, 2025
Stop transferring rare secrets
On the same day, China's Ministry of Commerce announced a ban on all rare earths or their purchase.Other countries are trying to develop their own rare earth industries, and have called on Chinese officials to promote rare earths.
The result: China is adopting export controls to protect itself which is almost a lock for the industry.
October 9, 2025
Cessation of export of rare earth processing equipment.
The Ministry of Commerce is also issuing a long list of furnaces, chemicals and other equipment and materials necessary for processing rare earths, saying none may leave China without approval from November 8.
The bottom line: China is a leading producer of rare earth refinery equipment and magnet factories, so this could delay other countries' efforts to introduce their own production.
9 October 2025
Blocking the export of the other five rare earth elements
To the list of seven rare elements for which export licenses are required, we published on April 4, the publication has additional sizes and other materials made from them.The law comes into force on November 8.
Summary: By expanding the number of rare earths that require licensing, the Chinese government will assert greater power over a larger supply chain around the world.
October 9, 2025
Range of battery manufacturing equipment
The ministry has published a long list of battery-making materials that will not be allowed to leave China without a special permit from November 8.
The result: These changes would give China more power over electric vehicle makers around the world that are big consumers of batteries, as well as electric companies that need Chinese technology to build large-scale grid storage batteries for solar or wind power.
October 9, 2025
Prohibition on the export of saws and similar equipment
The ministry has suspended exports of ultra-hard materials such as semiconductors and diamond saws used in the production of solar chips since November 8.
Conclusion: This can help China gain leadership in semiconductors to install and protect the Earth's solar panels.
9 October 2025
Control of trade in rare earth magnets produced outside of China
The ministry orders any movement without the permission of any genet limit made without the Magnet account, China's rare permission of 1.1 is also requested to make the magnets technology of Tena.The service defined the law firmly to be used not only in chinare veins but from rare China to rare China in production and how it will be used.Military production requests are "in principle" rejected.
The result: China, which sided with Russia in the Ukraine war, could use the rule to prevent other countries from supplying Ukraine with weapons or building their own arsenal.
October 14, 1025
Stopping exports of Nexperia computer chips to Europe
Nexperia, a Netherlands-based company acquired by a Chinese consortium in 2018, announced it had been ordered to withhold authorization from China.European car companies, including Volkswagen, are about to run out of computer chips.
Result: China, which operated after the Dutch government took over Nexperia, shows again how it can use export controls to affect global supply chains.
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