China Considers Export Ban For Rare-Earth Technology

Nikkei Asia has reported that China is considering applying export restrictions on certain rare-earth magnet technology, a move which may restrict the United States' access to high-tech required for electric vehicles and other applications.

• Nikkei: "The revisions would either ban or restrict exports of technology to process and refine rare-earth elements. There are also proposed provisions that would prohibit or limit exports of alloy tech for making high-performance magnets derived from rare earths."
• The US has taken aggressive measures to relocate rare-earth supply chains from China to the US and allies but China still controls around 70% of rare earth global rare-earth production.
• Nikkei reports that, "China still holds a tight grip on processing rare earths. Most rare earths extracted in the U.S. go to China for refining before being shipped back to the U.S."
• Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters today that China may use rare earths "as a bargaining chip since rare earths are a weak point for Japan and the U.S." as competition increases for the control of semiconductor technology.