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4d ago

US–China Rare Earths Clash Deepens as EU Seeks G7 Response

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent condemned Beijing’s expanded controls that add a military-use ban and trace-content licensing.

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In an aerial view, a container ship arrives at the Port of Oakland on October 10, 2025, in Oakland, California.
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A sample of bastnaesite ore, a mineral used in the rare earth industry to extract elements such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium, is displayed at the Geological Museum of China in Beijing, China, October 14, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Overview

  • China’s Oct. 9 measures extend export licensing to products with as little as 0.1% China‑sourced rare earth content and block supplies for foreign military use, with fuller enforcement set for Dec. 1.
  • President Donald Trump threatened a 100% tariff on Chinese imports starting Nov. 1, though his treasury chief suggested the increase could still be avoided if talks progress.
  • EU trade ministers called the controls a critical concern and moved to coordinate a G7 response that includes faster diversification and joint critical‑minerals projects.
  • Industry sources report slower rare‑earth magnet shipments as tighter inspections and limited approved testing in China create certification bottlenecks.
  • Markets softened as both countries implemented reciprocal port fees on each other’s ships and rare‑earth stocks swung on supply and tariff risks, while a potential Trump–Xi meeting at APEC remains on the table.