China Expands Rare Earth Export Controls To Target Semiconductor, Defense Users (reuters.com)
(Thursday October 09, 2025 @11:30PM (BeauHD)
from the increasing-leverage dept.)
- Reference: 0179733686
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/10/09/2116246/china-expands-rare-earth-export-controls-to-target-semiconductor-defense-users
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-tightens-rare-earth-export-controls-2025-10-09/
Longtime Slashdot reader [1]hackingbear writes:
> Following U.S. lawmakers' call on Tuesday for broader bans on the export of chipmaking equipment to China, China [2]dramatically expanded its rare earths export controls on Thursday, adding five new elements, dozens of pieces of refining technology, and extra scrutiny for semiconductor users as Beijing tightens control over the sector ahead of talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The new rules expands controls Beijing announced in April that caused shortages around the world, before a series of deals with Europe and the U.S. eased the supply crunch.
>
> China produces over 90% of the world's processed rare earths and rare earth magnets. The 17 rare earth elements are vital materials in products ranging from electric vehicles to aircraft engines and military radars. Foreign companies producing some of the rare earths and related magnets on the list will now also need a Chinese export license if the final product contains or is made with Chinese equipment or material, even if the transaction includes no Chinese companies, mimicking rules the U.S. has implemented to restrict other countries' exports of semiconductor-related products to China.
>
> Developing mining and processing capabilities requires a [3]long-term effort , meaning the United States will be on the back foot for the foreseeable future. The Commerce Ministry also [4]added to its "unreliable entity list" 14 foreign organizations , which are mostly based in the United States, restricting their ability to carry out commercial activities within the world's second-largest economy for carrying out military and technological cooperation with Taiwan, or "made malicious remarks about China, and assisted foreign governments in suppressing Chinese companies," it said in a separate statement, referring to TechInsights, a prominent Canadian tech research firm, and nine of its subsidiaries including Strategy Analytics which were among those blacklisted.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~hackingbear
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-tightens-rare-earth-export-controls-2025-10-09/
[3] https://www.csis.org/analysis/consequences-chinas-new-rare-earths-export-restrictions
[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-commerce-ministry-adds-14-foreign-entities-unreliable-entity-list-2025-10-09/
> Following U.S. lawmakers' call on Tuesday for broader bans on the export of chipmaking equipment to China, China [2]dramatically expanded its rare earths export controls on Thursday, adding five new elements, dozens of pieces of refining technology, and extra scrutiny for semiconductor users as Beijing tightens control over the sector ahead of talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The new rules expands controls Beijing announced in April that caused shortages around the world, before a series of deals with Europe and the U.S. eased the supply crunch.
>
> China produces over 90% of the world's processed rare earths and rare earth magnets. The 17 rare earth elements are vital materials in products ranging from electric vehicles to aircraft engines and military radars. Foreign companies producing some of the rare earths and related magnets on the list will now also need a Chinese export license if the final product contains or is made with Chinese equipment or material, even if the transaction includes no Chinese companies, mimicking rules the U.S. has implemented to restrict other countries' exports of semiconductor-related products to China.
>
> Developing mining and processing capabilities requires a [3]long-term effort , meaning the United States will be on the back foot for the foreseeable future. The Commerce Ministry also [4]added to its "unreliable entity list" 14 foreign organizations , which are mostly based in the United States, restricting their ability to carry out commercial activities within the world's second-largest economy for carrying out military and technological cooperation with Taiwan, or "made malicious remarks about China, and assisted foreign governments in suppressing Chinese companies," it said in a separate statement, referring to TechInsights, a prominent Canadian tech research firm, and nine of its subsidiaries including Strategy Analytics which were among those blacklisted.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~hackingbear
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-tightens-rare-earth-export-controls-2025-10-09/
[3] https://www.csis.org/analysis/consequences-chinas-new-rare-earths-export-restrictions
[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-commerce-ministry-adds-14-foreign-entities-unreliable-entity-list-2025-10-09/
The bright side (Score:2)
by Tony Isaac ( 1301187 )
The US government has been trying really hard to alienate the entire world, especially China. China's leaders aren't dumb, they know how to fight back, they know how to hit the US where it hurts, and they're not afraid to do it.
It's no coincidence that China has stopped buying soybeans and rice and pork from the US, a move that will hurt farmers most severely. Farmers are a group of voters who strongly backed Trump. Now, With this rare earth move, China is continuing to fight back in ways that will inflict
Re: (Score:1)
A responsible behaviour worthy of a Noble Piece Prize, one could say.
Re: (Score:1)
No. Only an act of Congress can change the name from Department of Defense, and that has not happened. Trump did issue an executive order that added Department of War as a secondary name, but that's all he can do with an order.
Re: (Score:2)
i don't think china really gives a crap about other 'leaders' chest-thumping for domestic consumption. they do care about trade being fair or just an instrument for interference, and respond in kind.
Re: (Score:2)
As someone said in another forum, "China doesn't see the need to help build the missiles that the US wants to attack it with."
Our executives' greed for short term profits has made us totally dependent on China for the materials necessary for our economy to function.
Re: (Score:2)
> for the materials necessary for our economy to function.
would that matter if that economy didn't depend on constantly producing weapons to function? these limitations mainly apply to the defense sector.
dependency is normal. all countries are dependent on others to varying degrees. diversify, and fair trade and exchange are mutual benefits. it might become a problem when one country starts acting like a school bully. which is the case here. in that case the bully better has his shit together. in this case he hasn't.
now, let me share a wild idea, this is just a ra