China has halted exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets in an effort to choke off supply to various industries ranging from electric vehicles and semiconductors to defense and aerospace.
The suspension is part of China’s retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s sharp increase in tariffs amid escalating trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.
The report follows China’s announcement earlier this month that it placed strict export controls on six heavy rare earth metals that are refined almost entirely within the country.
These materials are used to make special magnets found in many kinds of electric motors, which are crucial components of vehicles, drones, robots, missiles and spacecraft.