China just made the rare earth trade war personal. On June 22, Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce added 10 US companies to its export control list, including MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, two of the most significant players in America’s effort to build a domestic rare earth supply chain.
The move effectively bars Chinese firms from selling dual-use items to these entities.
What happened and why it matters
The new restrictions are a direct response to Washington’s recent expansion of its own blacklist targeting Chinese military-linked firms.
These 17 metallic elements are essential for everything from fighter jet engines to electric vehicle motors to the magnets inside your smartphone.
