China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has announced new export restrictions on rare earth-related technologies to protect national security and strategic interests.
In a statement issued Thursday, MOFCOM said the controls will apply to a wide range of technologies, including rare earth mining, smelting and separation, metal processing, magnetic material production, and recycling of secondary rare earth resources.
The new measures, introduced under China’s Export Control Law and the Regulation on the Export Control of Dual-use Items, prohibit the export of these technologies and related data without government authorisation. This includes the assembly, maintenance, repair, or upgrade of production lines associated with rare earth materials.
Furthermore, exporters dealing in non-controlled goods or services must seek a special dual-use export license if they know their products could be used for rare earth-related activities abroad. Unauthorised transfers or exports of such items will be strictly prohibited.
The decision comes as China seeks to tighten oversight over its critical minerals sector, one that plays a pivotal role in global supply chains for electronics, defence, and renewable energy industries.
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