China says it will keep approving rare earth export licences to Europe even if a U.S. trade truce lapses in January. The stance follows talks in Beijing between EU and Chinese trade officials.
01Summary
- 01China Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said on Thursday that rare earths will keep flowing to Europe regardless of the U.S. deadline.
- 02Beijing tightened restrictions on all rare earth exports last October, including products with just 0.1% of China-sourced rare earths.
- 03The U.S. and China suspended those measures for one year after a late-October 2025 meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, and Scott Bessent later said the truce was extended by two months to January.
- 04European trade commissioner Maroš Sefčovič met Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing last week, and China said it would use a 'green channel' to keep rare earths moving to Europe.
- 05EU leaders are meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday and are expected to review the details of trade talks with China.
02Why it matters
Rare earth supplies are important for many industrial and technology products, so any change in export rules can affect European manufacturers. The talks also show the EU is trying to keep trade ties with China stable while the U.S.-China truce remains uncertain.
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