EU thinks it’s been left out as China eases historic rare earth curbs

The European Union does not believe its industries are covered by a “de facto removal” of China’s historical restrictions on the export of rare earths and other critical minerals announced by the White House on Saturday.

In a fact sheet detailing the outcomes of US President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last Thursday, the White House said that China “will issue general licenses valid for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite for the benefit of US end users and their suppliers around the world”.

“The general license means the de facto removal of controls China imposed in April 2025 and October 2022,” the statement said, referring to controls on rare earths this year and gallium and germanium dating back to 2022.

At a press conference on Monday, the European Commission confirmed that while it believes the suspension of October 2025’s expansion of April’s restrictions on rare earth exports covers the “entire world”, it remains in negotiations with Beijing over the historical elements.

“Our understanding is that the Chinese suspension applies to the entire world … and we continue to engage with China to understand the precise modalities of that. But that’s our understanding,” said trade spokesman Olof Gill.

When pushed on whether the April controls remain in place, Gill said: “Precisely”.

  

​Read More