China Bolsters National Security with Rigorous Controls on Rare Earth Technology Exports

In a strategic move to reinforce national security and ensure the stability of global supply chains, China's Ministry of Commerce announced on Thursday the immediate implementation of new regulatory measures over the export of technologies related to rare earths and associated minerals.

Under these regulations, exporting technologies for mining, smelting, and separating rare earths—as well as manufacturing magnetic materials, recycling, and utilizing secondary sources—now requires prior official approval. Exports involving the assembly, maintenance, or upgrading of production lines for these technologies are also prohibited without licenses.

The policy further stipulates that foreign organizations or individuals must acquire export permits for dual-use materials before shipping certain rare earth-related items out of China. The ministry declared that applications intended for overseas military use, or for importers and end-users on control lists, will generally be denied.

A ministry spokesperson emphasized these controls are in line with international norms, due to the dual-use nature of rare earth materials. The Chinese government acts in accordance with the law to supervise foreign materials incorporating Chinese components. This approach is designed to better protect national security and interests and fulfill international commitments such as nonproliferation.

China remains committed to fostering international cooperation via both multilateral and bilateral dialogue mechanisms on export controls, facilitating lawful trade, and safeguarding the security and stability of global industries. The spokesperson noted that the scope of the controlled materials is limited and that simultaneous measures will be taken to expedite licensing procedures. Export permits will be granted for compliant applications, while shipments for humanitarian aid—including emergency medical care, response to public health emergencies, and disaster relief—are exempt from licensing requirements.