The rare earth cat-and-mouse game between China and the United States dominated the headlines this week. While the U.S. announced a widespread easing of export curbs, Beijing was rather quiet. Meanwhile, the People’s Republic published the first batch of October trade data.
White House: China to Suspend Some Critical Mineral Curbs to the U.S.
The White House on Saturday said China will suspend certain rare earth export controls and issue general licenses for critical minerals, effectively easing supply constraints for U.S. industries. However, the fact sheet published Saturday goes beyond what Beijing has publicly announced, leaving questions about implementation and the full scope of the deal.
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China’s Rare Earth Exports Edge Higher in October After Months of Decline
After months of falling shipments, China’s rare earth exports edged higher in October, up nearly 9% from September. The rebound comes after Beijing temporarily eased new export curbs following talks with the United States. Yet uncertainty persists as earlier restrictions continue to weigh on global supply chains.
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USGS Adds Ten New Materials to 2025 Critical Minerals List
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released its new list of critical minerals for 2025. Compared with the previous version from 2022, ten materials have been added. Among them, copper, silver, rhenium, and silicon are now classified as essential to the U.S. economy and national security. At the same time, these materials are considered highly vulnerable to supply chain risks.
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U.S. Moves to Strengthen Domestic Rare Earth Magnet Industry
The U.S. government is emphasizing its commitment to expanding national capabilities in the extraction and processing of critical raw materials through substantial investments in magnet manufacturer Vulcan Elements and rare earth producer ReElement Technologies.
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MP Materials: Pentagon Investment Initially Weighs on Revenue
MP Materials said that its partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense weighed on revenue in the third quarter. As part of an agreement reached this summer with the Pentagon, the company agreed to cease exports of rare earth products to China. As a result, revenue fell by approximately 15% year-over-year.
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