China's rare earth export controls, implemented in April, caused an initial dip in its exports, but a recent analysis of monthly data indicates a partial rebound in June. This uptick follows trade talks between the U.S. and China, where the controls were a central point of discussion.

Last week, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) signaled its intent to sanction foreign companies found in violation of its export control measures, particularly those related to strategic minerals and dual-use technologies. It underscores China's commitment to fortifying its export control regime, which has been in the

China's exports of natural graphite are rebounding over the first four months of 2025, recovering from an initial dip after China revised its regulations in late 2023, when it expanded the list of controlled graphite types.

The implementation of China's export controls on rare earths in early April has increased trade tensions with the United States. During the first month of these new restrictions, customs data reveals a 16.3% contraction in rare earth exports to the U.S., while China's overall

Despite a recent easing of some trade tensions with the United States, China is signaling a firm stance on existing export control measures, particularly those targeting strategic minerals. Recent government statements and actions indicate a heightened effort to enforce these controls, crack down on circumvention, and potentially pressure other trading

At the meeting of the WTO's Committee on Market Access on November 19 and 20, 2024, for which the meeting minutes were recently circulated, WTO Members discussed China's Export Control Law and "restrictions on trade in strategic products."

Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced that it would be conducting a national security investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 related to imports of critical minerals and their derivative products.