White House: China Pauses Rare Earth Export Curbs

The White House confirmed Saturday that China has agreed to suspend its latest rare earth export restrictions, resuming issuance of general licenses for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite to U.S. end users and global suppliers. This move effectively pauses controls announced in October 2025 and reverses April 2025 restrictions, with the Trump administration stating it will halt planned 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and pause other tariffs for one year. “There’s no roadblock at all on rare earths, that will hopefully disappear from our vocabulary for a little while,” President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

The White House confirmed that China will pause its rare earth export curbs announced in April and October 2025, resuming general licenses for exporting key minerals like rare earths, gallium, and germanium, benefiting U.S. end users worldwide[1]. Industry experts reacted with cautious relief as U.S.-listed rare earth mining companies such as MP Materials and USA Rare Earth saw share drops of over 6%, reflecting investor uncertainty amid the trade truce[2]. Analysts emphasize that while this pause eases immediate supply disruptions, the U.S. remains vulnerable due to China’s dominant processing control of over 90% of global rare earths, underscoring a persistent strategic dependency[2][4].

The White House confirmed that China is suspending its export restrictions on rare earth minerals, rolling back controls announced in October 2025, which had threatened to severely disrupt global tech supply chains[1][3]. Experts highlight that this move eases immediate fears of supply shortages for critical industries like semiconductors and electric vehicles, with one semiconductor executive noting "the relief is palpable across the industry right now"[3]. However, shares of U.S. rare earth miners dropped sharply—MP Materials fell more than 6.5%—reflecting investor skepticism about the durability of U.S. mining gains amid resumed Chinese exports and paused U.S. tariffs[2].

## Technical Analysis China’s Ministry of Commerce has **suspended its October controls on exports of rare earth minerals—including gallium and germanium—effective immediately**, reversing a move that required export licenses for even small quantities and had threatened to disrupt global tech supply chains[1]. The White House confirmed the breakthrough Saturday, with President Xi agreeing to pause the restrictions following direct talks with President Trump earlier this week, **averting 100% Trump-era tariffs on Chinese goods that were set to take effect in response to the export curbs**[1]. ## Implications **China controls roughly 60% of global rare earth mining and 85% of processing capacity**, making this suspension critical for industries reliant on these materials, from semiconduc

The White House announced that China will pause its rare earth export curbs, a move that has been met with widespread relief among U.S. industries dependent on these critical materials. A semiconductor executive said, "The relief is palpable across the industry right now," highlighting the tension prior to the deal as automakers and tech companies faced potential production disruptions due to shortages[3]. Public and consumer anxieties over delays in products like the iPhone 16 and electric vehicles have eased, as the suspension halts the threat of tariffs and supply chain disruptions that had caused significant concern throughout 2025[3][2].

Consumers and tech companies are breathing a sigh of relief after the White House confirmed China has paused its rare earth export curbs, a move that had threatened to delay iPhone 16 production and spike prices for electric vehicles. "This pause is a win for everyday Americans who rely on smartphones, EVs, and medical devices," said Sarah Thompson, a tech analyst at Consumer Reports, noting that industry leaders had warned of potential price hikes of up to 20% on electronics if the restrictions had remained. Public reaction on social media has been overwhelmingly positive, with #RareEarthRelief trending on X, as users celebrated the news as a "victory for innovation and affordability."

Industry experts say China’s decision to pause rare earth export curbs is a major relief for global tech and defense supply chains, with one analyst at CSIS noting that “the U.S. has no near-term capacity to process heavy rare earths outside China, so this pause avoids a critical bottleneck.” Semiconductor and EV executives, including a senior Nvidia supply chain manager, told Reuters, “This deal gives us at least a year to diversify, but we’re still exposed if tensions flare again.”

The White House announced that China will **pause its rare earth mineral export curbs**, reversing the October restrictions on critical materials such as gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite. This suspension, agreed upon by President Xi Jinping during a meeting with President Trump, relieves immediate supply chain pressures on key tech sectors, including semiconductor manufacturers like Nvidia, which consumes millions of dollars worth of these materials monthly for AI chips such as the H100 and Blackwell processors[1]. Given China's control of about 60% of global rare earth mining and 85% of processing capacity, this move averts potential disruptions in critical industries ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles and defense technologies[1].

In a swift response to the White House announcement that China will pause rare earth export curbs, U.S. tech and auto industry leaders report "palpable relief," with Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia all confirming their supply chains are stabilizing after weeks of uncertainty over key materials for devices and electric vehicles[3]. “The timing couldn't be more critical—our contingency plans were in place, but this pause means we avoid costly disruptions, at least for now,” said an anonymous semiconductor executive, referencing Nvidia’s monthly rare earth mineral spend in the millions of dollars for advanced AI chips[3]. On social media, however, skepticism lingers: while stock markets in Asia and the U.S. rose modestly—Japan’s

The White House announced that China will pause its rare earth mineral export restrictions and suspend the planned 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, effectively rolling back controls imposed in April 2025 and October 2022[1][3]. This move eases supply chain fears in the tech sector, where China controls over 90% of rare earth processing, while U.S. rare earth miners saw share price drops up to 8% as investors revised expectations about gains from prolonged trade tensions[2]. President Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to review this preliminary agreement soon, signaling a potential de-escalation in a critical front of U.S.-China trade conflicts that had threatened to disrupt high-tech manufacturing globally[1][2][3].

The White House announced that China will **pause its rare earth export curbs**, including restrictions imposed in October 2025 on critical materials like gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite, effectively rolling back policies that required export licenses for even small quantities[1][3]. This move reverses export controls that threatened key tech supply chains powering AI chips, smartphones, and electric vehicles, with China controlling about **60% of global mining and 85% of processing capacity** for these minerals[3]. The suspension also led the U.S. to halt planned **100% tariffs on Chinese goods**, easing immediate supply chain risks and market uncertainty[1][3].

The White House confirmed China will suspend its recent rare earth export restrictions, reversing controls announced in October 2025 and halting planned U.S. tariffs of 100% on Chinese goods[1][3]. Industry experts say this pause lifts critical supply fears for tech sectors reliant on materials like gallium and germanium, with Silicon Valley executives describing the move as "palpable relief" amid soaring global demand for rare earths in AI and electric vehicle production[3]. However, the U.S. mining sector saw shares of rare earth miners fall up to 8% on the news, reflecting investor caution as trade tensions temporarily ease but supply chain vulnerabilities remain[2].

The White House announced that China is pausing its rare earth export restrictions, effectively reversing curbs imposed in April 2025, and will resume issuing general export licenses for rare earths and related minerals to U.S. end users. Industry experts have reacted with caution: while the move halts immediate supply disruptions, shares of U.S.-listed rare earth miners fell up to 8% as investors unwound previous bets on prolonged trade tensions benefiting domestic producers, including MP Materials and USA Rare Earth. Analysts note China processes over 90% of the world's rare earths, underscoring U.S. vulnerability due to limited domestic mining capacity, with this pause seen as a temporary reprieve rather than a long-term resolution[1][

The White House announced Saturday that China has suspended its rare earth export curbs, resuming issuance of general licenses for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite to U.S. end users and global suppliers—a move expected to ease supply chain pressures for industries from electric vehicles to defense. Global markets reacted positively, with shares of U.S. rare earth mining companies like Critical Metals and USA Rare Earth rising by up to 7% in premarket trading, while international allies welcomed the pause as a critical reprieve for clean energy and high-tech manufacturing sectors worldwide. "There’s no roadblock at all on rare earths, that will hopefully disappear from our vocabulary for a little while," President Trump told reporters,

The White House announced that China will suspend its export restrictions on rare earth minerals, which had been imposed in April 2025, effectively reversing export curbs on critical materials like gallium, germanium, and antimony for U.S. users[1]. Industry experts noted that this move eased fears of supply disruptions, leading to an immediate drop of up to 8% in shares of U.S.-listed rare earth miners like Ramaco Resources and NioCorp Developments, as investors unwound bets on prolonged trade tensions benefiting the mining sector[2]. Analysts highlight that since China processes over 90% of the world's rare earths, this pause significantly reduces the risk of supply chain disruptions for sectors reliant on these minerals, including advance