China has unveiled sweeping export controls on rare earths and related technologies, as it strengthens its leverage over critical minerals ahead of an expected meeting this month between US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Under the new rules, foreign companies will need Beijing’s approval to export magnets that contain even trace amounts of Chinese-sourced rare earth materials, or that were produced using the country’s extraction methods, refining or magnet-making technology. The restrictions announced on Thursday by the commerce ministry will for the first time create a Chinese version of the US foreign direct product rule, a measure Washington has used to block semiconductor-related exports to China from third countries. The rules give Beijing more leverage to exert control over the global rare-earth supply chain. Rare earth minerals and magnets are critical to technologies from smartphones to electric vehicles and fighter jets.

Full report : China unveils sweeping export controls on rare-earth minerals, creating rules akin to US measures that block chip-related exports to China from third countries.