The CCP seeks trade leverage with tighter rare earth export rules, but risks accelerating Western supply chains that could erode Beijing’s long-held monopoly.
Exports made up one-third of China’s economic growth last year. Export numbers are hard for the regime to forge as they have to match other countries’ imports.
Despite the poor performance, official data reported a 5.9 percent year-over-year growth for March, causing eyebrows to raise among many Chinese netizens.