Ministry of Commerce: The Scope of Rare Earth Items Subject to This Round of Controls Is Limited, and Multiple Licensing Facilitation Measures Will Be Implemented

Remarks by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce in Response to Media Inquiry on Strengthening Export Controls on Rare Earth-Related Items.

Question: We have noted that the Ministry of Commerce issued two announcements on the morning of October 9 regarding strengthening export controls on rare earth-related items. Could you provide more details?

Answer: Regarding Announcement No. 61 of 2025, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations such as the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items, and with the approval of the State Council of China, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 61 of 2025 on October 9, implementing export controls on certain overseas rare earth-related items containing Chinese components.

Rare earth-related items possess dual-use attributes, and implementing export controls on them is an internationally common practice. In April this year, the Chinese government imposed export controls on the export of rare earth items by Chinese organizations and individuals. Relevant rare earth technologies were also included in the Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export in China as early as 2001. For some time, certain overseas organizations and individuals have directly or indirectly transferred or supplied rare earth-controlled items of Chinese origin, either directly or after processing, to relevant organizations and individuals for use in sensitive fields such as military applications, causing significant harm or potential threats to China's national security and interests, adversely affecting international peace and stability, and undermining international non-proliferation efforts. Therefore, the Chinese government has lawfully imposed controls on certain overseas rare earth-related items containing Chinese components to better safeguard national security and interests and to better fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation.

As a responsible major country, China's implementation of controls on relevant items reflects its consistent stance of firmly safeguarding world peace and regional stability and actively participating in international non-proliferation efforts. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties through multilateral and bilateral export control dialogue mechanisms to promote compliant trade and ensure the security and stability of the global industry chain and supply chain. It should be noted that the scope of items subject to control this time is limited, and various licensing facilitation measures will be implemented simultaneously.For applications that comply with relevant regulations, the Chinese government will grant licenses; exports for humanitarian relief purposes such as emergency medical care, response to public health emergencies, and natural disaster relief will be exempted from licensing requirements. Additionally, considering the practical needs of various stakeholders to fulfill existing commercial contracts and meet compliance requirements, this policy has set a reasonable transition period.

Regarding Announcement No. 62 of 2025, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations such as the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items, and with the approval of the State Council of China, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 62 of 2025 on October 9, implementing export controls on rare earth-related technologies.

Rare earth-related items possess dual-use attributes for both civilian and military purposes, and implementing export controls on them is an internationally common practice. In April this year, the Chinese government imposed export controls on certain rare earth items. Relevant rare earth technologies were already included in the "Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export in China" as early as 2001. Related exports must comply with legal procedural requirements.

Since the beginning of this year, the Office of the National Export Control Coordination Mechanism has organized and carried out a special campaign to combat the smuggling and export of strategic minerals, achieving positive results. Meanwhile, relevant authorities have also discovered that some foreign organizations and individuals illegally acquired rare earth technologies from China, produced rare earth-related items, and supplied them to users in sensitive fields such as the military or for sensitive applications, causing significant harm or potential threats to China's national security and interests, and adversely affecting international peace and stability. To prevent related risks, after prudent assessment, the Chinese government decided to implement export controls on rare earth-related technologies, while also making clear provisions for Chinese organizations and individuals engaged in related activities, in order to better safeguard national security and interests, better fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, and also ensure the security and stability of the global rare earth industry chain and supply chain.