A recent aerial image shows a major mining site, built by State-owned China Railway 23rd Bureau Group, in Tongcheng, Anhui province. CHINA DAILY
China's shift toward more comprehensive and rules-based management of critical mineral exports such as rare earths marks a broader effort to tighten oversight across the supply chain and strengthen safeguards for strategic resources, experts said.
To better protect national security and fulfill related international obligations, Beijing introduced export control measures last year on certain rare earth items and related technologies and equipment, said the Ministry of Commerce.
Overseas importers must obtain a dual-use item export license from the ministry before shipping controlled items to destinations outside China.
In June, the United States, Japan and the Netherlands were China's top three export markets for rare earths and related products by volume, receiving 1,700 metric tons, 1,600 tons and 1,400 tons, respectively, according to the latest monthly report on China's rare earth trade released by Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics in late July.
