Overview
- President Donald Trump announced a rare‑earths agreement with Xi Jinping, and Beijing confirmed the Oct. 9 expansion of export controls will be suspended for at least one year.
- EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič called the accord erga omnes and said it should cover the EU, as Brussels held talks with a visiting Chinese delegation.
- The suspended measures would have required export permits for technologies and machinery used in mining and processing rare earths, key inputs for autos, chips, renewables and defense.
- German industry groups welcomed the pause but warned that uncertainty persists, noting unclear details on which restrictions are halted and how supply chains will be affected.
- China controls roughly 70% of global mining and up to 90% of processing; experts say separation know‑how is concentrated in China, and propose stockpiling, recycling and state purchase guarantees while diversification efforts face environmental and economic hurdles.