China Lifts Rare Earth Export Restrictions, Resumes General Licenses

The White House announced Saturday that China will suspend restrictions on exporting rare earth minerals, a move that will effectively reverse restrictions imposed in April 2025 and October 2022. According to the White House, China will resume issuing general licenses for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers around the world. This decision comes after a trade deal reached between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this week. The move is seen as a significant concession by China, which is the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals. These minerals are essential for the production of various tech products, including smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. The restrictions imposed by China in October would have required foreign companies to apply for a license to export even small amounts of these minerals, a move that was met with resistance from the Trump administration. "We are pleased that China has agreed to suspend its restrictions on exporting rare earth minerals," said a White House spokesperson. "This decision will help to ensure that U.S. companies have access to the materials they need to produce critical technologies." The restrictions imposed by China in April 2025 and October 2022 were seen as a retaliatory measure against the U.S. for its trade policies. In response, the Trump administration threatened to impose an additional 100 in tariffs on Chinese goods. However, with the suspension of the restrictions, the White House has announced that it is halting plans for those tariffs and pausing other tariffs on Chinese goods for one year. The suspension of the restrictions is seen as a significant development for the tech industry, which relies heavily on rare earth minerals. "This is a major win for U.S. companies that rely on rare earth minerals for their products," said a spokesperson for the tech industry. "We appreciate the efforts of the Trump administration in negotiating this deal with China." The deal between the U.S. and China is part of a larger trade agreement that aims to reduce tensions between the two countries. The agreement includes provisions for increased access to Chinese markets for U.S. companies and a reduction in tariffs on Chinese goods. The suspension of the restrictions on rare earth minerals is seen as a positive development for the tech industry, which has been impacted by the restrictions. However, the long-term implications of the deal are still unclear, and it remains to be seen how it will affect the global supply chain for rare earth minerals. The White House has announced that it will continue to monitor the situation and work with China to ensure that the agreement is implemented. The suspension of the restrictions is set to take effect immediately, and U.S. companies are expected to benefit from increased access to rare earth minerals.