China Delays Rare Earth Export Controls in U.S. Trade Truce
Beijing and Washington agreed to extend waivers on critical mineral licensing to Jan. 10, 2027, but unissued gazette texts leave global buyers facing administrative uncertainty.
China's Ministry of Commerce left automotive and defense procurement desks facing administrative uncertainty on Oct. 6, 2026, as an agreed suspension of strict rare earth export restrictions awaited formal regulatory codification.
The pending export measures govern critical materials where China controls 90% of global refining capacity and 93% of sintered permanent magnet production. These specialized inputs supply high-performance electric vehicle traction motors and defense navigation systems worldwide.
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