China Says Some Rare Earths Exports Approved Ahead of Trade Talks With US

Critical metals are expected to be on U.S. officials’ agenda when they meet their Chinese counterparts in London on June 9.

Soil containing various rare earths elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, China, in a file photo. STR/AFP via Getty Images

China has approved a number of licenses for rare earths export applications, its commerce ministry said on June 7—a day before trade negotiations between Chinese and U.S. officials in which the critical metals are expected to be top of the agenda.

The Chinese authorities “noticed that with the development of robots, new energy vehicles, and other industries, the demand for medium and heavy rare earths in the civilian field continues to rise in all countries,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in an online statement late on June 7.