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China Halts Rare Earth Mineral Exports as Trade War With U.S. Escalates

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions, Beijing has suspended exports of key rare earth metals and magnets, threatening Western access to crucial components for weapons, electronics, autos, aerospace, semiconductors, and consumer goods.

The Chinese government is drafting new export regulations, and as policies take shape, shipments of magnets—vital for everything from cars to missiles—have been halted at several Chinese ports, according to The New York Times.

The report warns that once the new regulations are finalized, they could permanently block shipments to specific companies, including U.S. military contractors.

China’s export crackdown is a direct response to President Trump’s escalating trade war. As the world’s top producer of rare earths—accounting for about 90% of global output—Beijing holds significant leverage in industries ranging from defense to electronics.

Seven categories of medium and heavy rare earths, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium-related items, are now on China’s export control list. The U.S., which has only one rare earth mine, relies heavily on Chinese supply.

On April 2, Beijing imposed export curbs on rare earths, permanent magnets, and finished products as part of its retaliation against Trump’s tariff hike to 54% on most Chinese goods. Analysts warn these items will be hard to replace.

Though not a full ban, Beijing can restrict rare earth shipments by limiting export licenses. U.S. firms like Lockheed Martin, Tesla, and Apple rely heavily on these materials.

While the U.S. holds some stockpiles, they’re insufficient for long-term defense needs.