According to a fact sheet, Beijing will issue “General Licenses.”
China will suspend new export restrictions on rare-earth metals and ease curbs on other critical minerals, according to a White House fact sheet detailing agreements reached between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Released on Saturday, the fact sheet states that Beijing will issue “general licenses” for the exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite, to benefit U.S. end consumers and their suppliers, which would, according to the White House, effectively lift controls imposed in April 2025 and October 2022.
Which October 2022 measure is referenced is unclear, as China had not issued corresponding rules at the time. In contrast, Beijing tightened export regulations for rare-earth elements in October 2025. The fact sheet does not mention other recent restrictions, including those on indium, tungsten, and molybdenum from February 2025 or earlier controls on gallium and germanium, which were initially imposed in August 2023.
General licenses allow approved companies to export these materials repeatedly without seeking individual approval for each shipment.
White House Fact Sheet Goes Beyond MOFCOM’s Version
The U.S. statement goes beyond what China’s Ministry of Commerce announced last week, when it said only that the October 9 tightening of export controls would be suspended for one year. Washington’s version outlines broader measures, including longer-term export permissions and the termination of investigations into U.S. semiconductor companies.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the deal “buys time” for both sides but cautioned that reliance on Chinese rare-earth supply remains risky. “The Chinese have cornered the market, and at times, they’ve proved unreliable partners,” he told Fox News Sunday, adding that the U.S. would respond if China backtracks on the agreement.
China has not yet published its own version of the agreement, leaving questions about implementation and the full scope of the deal. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the general licenses apply solely to U.S. companies or also extend to companies in other countries.
Photo: CreativeNature_nl via Canva