The big picture: China has halted exports of critical rare earth metals and magnets essential to industries ranging from automotive manufacturing to aerospace and defense. The move, which has sent shockwaves through global supply chains, began earlier this month when China placed new export restrictions on these minerals.
The suspension comes as Beijing drafts a new regulatory framework for issuing export licenses, a process expected to restrict access to these vital materials for specific companies, particularly American military contractors. Industry leaders fear the delay in establishing the licensing system could lead to shortages of rare earth components outside of China.
Michael Silver, CEO of American Elements, told the New York Times that his company had been informed it would take at least 45 days before exports might resume. “We anticipated this trade war and increased our inventory last winter,” Silver said, adding that his firm could meet existing contracts in the interim.
Rare earth metals are indispensable for modern technology. They are used in electric motors for vehicles, drones, robots, and missiles, as well as in jet engines, lasers, and computer chips powering artificial intelligence servers and smartphones. Among these metals, heavy rare earths are particularly crucial for producing magnets capable of maintaining their properties under high temperatures or electrical fields.
Daniel Pickard, chairman of the critical minerals advisory committee for the US Trade Representative and Department of Commerce, warned of severe impacts on American industries if the export restrictions persist. “A sustained disruption could hurt China’s reputation as a reliable supplier,” Pickard said.
China’s monopoly on rare earths is well-documented. Until 2023, it produced 99 percent of the world’s heavy rare earth metals and continues to manufacture 90 percent of rare earth magnets globally. The remaining production comes from Japan and Germany, both reliant on Chinese raw materials.
The Mountain Pass mine in California, owned by MP Materials, is the sole US-based source of rare earths but cannot meet domestic demand. James Litinsky, MP Materials’ CEO, expressed concern over the implications for military contractors. “Drones and robotics are widely considered the future of warfare,” Litinsky said. “Based on everything we are seeing, the critical inputs for our future supply chain are shut down.”
The export restrictions have not been uniformly enforced across Chinese ports. Some customs officials permit shipments containing minimal traces of heavy rare earth metals if they are destined for non-US markets. Others demand rigorous testing to ensure compliance with the new rules before allowing the exports to proceed. Meanwhile, Chinese officials have barred domestic companies from engaging with an expanding list of American firms, further complicating international trade.
China’s dominance in rare earth production is rooted in its rich deposits near Longnan in Jiangxi Province. The region hosts mines that extract heavy rare earths through chemical-intensive processes known to cause severe pollution – a practice temporarily halted but seemingly resumed recently.
Refineries near Longnan process these ores before sending them to magnet factories in Ganzhou, including JL Mag Rare-Earth Company, which supplies leading electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla and BYD.
The geopolitical implications of this development are significant. Xi Jinping’s visit to JL Mag’s factory in 2019 was widely interpreted as a signal that China could leverage its control over rare earths during trade disputes – a tactic it is now employing against the backdrop of heightened tensions with Washington following President Trump’s tariff hikes earlier this month.
