China hits back at US tariffs with export controls on key rare earths

Lockheed Martin, Tesla and Apple are among the US companies that use Chinese rare earths in their supply chains

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China placed export restrictions on rare earth elements on Friday as part of its sweeping response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, resources vital to the West of minerals used to make weapons, electronics and a range of consumer goods.

The move, which Beijing had long hinted would further ratchet up tensions between the world’s two largest economies and leaves American manufacturers scrambling for fresh supplies of the critical minerals they have relied upon for decades.

China controls 90% of the world’s rare earths, a group of 17 elements used across the defence, electric vehicle, energy and electronics industries. The United States has only one rare earths mine and most of its supply comes from China.

Beijing announced the controls late on Friday as part of a broader package of tariffs and company restrictions in retaliation for Trump’s decision to hike tariffs against most Chinese products to 54%.

The export curbs include not only mined minerals but permanent magnets and other finished products that will be difficult to replace, analysts said.

The move, which affects exports to all countries, not just the US, is the latest demonstration of China’s ability to weaponise its dominance over the mining and processing of the critical minerals.