China outlines more controls on exports of rare earths and technology

HONG KONG -- HONG KONG (AP) — China outlined new curbs on exports of rare earths and related technologies on Thursday, extending controls over use of the elements critical for many products ahead of a meeting later this month between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The regulations announced by the Ministry of Commerce require foreign companies to get special approval to export items that contain even small traces of rare earths elements sourced from China. Beijing also will impose permitting requirements on exports of technologies related to rare earths mining, smelting, recycling and magnet-making, it said. China accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s rare earths mining. It also controls roughly 90% of global rare earths processing. Access to such materials is a key