Overview

• China’s magnet shipments halved in April under new licensing rules, triggering production stoppages at European auto parts plants and warnings of semiconductor outages.
• Beijing granted export licenses this week to suppliers for General Motors, Ford and Stellantis following recent trade discussions.
• China’s Ministry of Commerce established a green channel for EU firms after talks between Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Maros Sefcovic to speed up approvals.
• Customs figures showed total rare earth exports rose 23% in May to a one-year high of 5,864 tonnes even as export value dropped nearly 50% year-on-year.
• Trade negotiators from China and the U.S. began talks in London today as Indian automakers warn that shortages could halt EV production by July.