China's rare-earths export controls

Beijing has reacted to the Trump administration’s tariffs by shifting its export-control strategy from eying a narrow set of items in the name of national security to targeting entire sectors and value chains on geopolitical grounds. The controls imposed in April 2025 on seven rare earth elements (REEs) and certain types of REE magnets have not only wreaked havoc on US supply chains, but on European ones, too. Restricted materials include samarium (essential for aerospace) and terbium (found in naval sonar systems), for example. MERICS experts have analyzed China’s controls and their implications for European companies in a series of short analyses and a MERICS Data Insight. 

Please note that this series is embargoed until September 30, 2025, 10 am CEST.