Overview
- The White House fact sheet says China will issue general licences for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers.
- Flows of gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S. were cut off by Beijing in December 2024 after those metals were placed under export controls.
- U.S. officials frame the licences as a de facto rollback of past controls, yet export restrictions on rare earths remain in place.
- China’s commerce ministry released a brief readout of the summit outcome that did not mention the issuing of general licences.
- The EU sought clarification on whether its industries are covered, with the European Commission saying the October expansion’s suspension appears global while April’s controls remain.