Rare Earth Directory

Policy

China rare earth export controls: timeline and the Nov 10, 2026 deadline

China's rare earth export controls are rules that require exporters to hold a Chinese government license before shipping listed rare earth materials, magnets and technologies abroad. Seven medium and heavy elements have needed a license since Apr 4, 2025. A wider set of measures announced on Oct 9, 2025 is suspended until Nov 10, 2026.

A license is not a ban: the Ministry of Commerce decides each application case by case. On Sept 25, 2026 the White House said the two countries "continue to work on" US concerns about rare earth shortages, with the goal of returning shipments to appropriate levels.

Verified through Oct 1, 2026

See the timelineWhat happens Nov 10

At a glance

Regulator
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), with Customs for some measures
In force
Announcement No. 18 of Apr 4, 2025: seven elements need a license
Suspended
Six Oct 9, 2025 announcements, until Nov 10, 2026 (Announcement No. 70)
Next dates
Nov 10, 2026: suspension ends. Nov 27, 2026: a separate US-focused suspension ends
Elements licensed
7Since Apr 4, 2025: Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Lu, Sc, Y
More elements, suspended
5Eu, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb
October announcements paused
6Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 62
Suspension ends
Nov 102026, unless China extends it

What are China's rare earth export controls?

China's rare earth export controls are licensing rules from the Ministry of Commerce. An exporter must apply for a license for each listed item, and the ministry decides each application case by case. The listed items are rare earth metals, oxides, alloys, compounds, targets and some permanent magnets, plus related technologies.

China has used rare earth restrictions before. Shipments to Japan stalled in 2010 after a ship collision near disputed islands, although China denied imposing an embargo, and China has banned exports of rare earth refining technology and, from Dec 2023, magnet-making technology.

What changed in 2025 is the target. The Apr 2025 licensing reached the materials and magnets that US manufacturers buy, and a license has to be approved before a listed shipment leaves China.

Which rare earth elements does China control?

China licenses seven of the 17 rare earth elements: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium. Five more, europium, holmium, erbium, thulium and ytterbium, were added on Oct 9, 2025 and are suspended until Nov 10, 2026. Neodymium and praseodymium are not on either list.

Neodymium and praseodymium, the base of the most common magnets, are not listed. But Announcement No. 18 lists neodymium-iron-boron magnets under terbium and dysprosium, and lists samarium permanent magnets, so magnets that contain those elements are controlled items.

  • 21 Sc Scandium
  • 39 Y Yttrium
  • 57 La Lanthanum
  • 58 Ce Cerium
  • 59 Pr Praseodymium
  • 60 Nd Neodymium
  • 61 Pm Promethium
  • 62 Sm Samarium
  • 63 Eu Europium
  • 64 Gd Gadolinium
  • 65 Tb Terbium
  • 66 Dy Dysprosium
  • 67 Ho Holmium
  • 68 Er Erbium
  • 69 Tm Thulium
  • 70 Yb Ytterbium
  • 71 Lu Lutetium
  • Magnet elements Pr, Nd, Sm, Tb, Dy
  • China licensing since Apr 2025 Sc, Y, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Lu
  • Oct 2025 expansion, suspended to Nov 10, 2026 Eu, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb

Source: Holland & Knight on MOFCOM Announcement 18

Tiles show the status of each element as of Oct 1, 2026. The seven licensed elements are named in MOFCOM Announcement No. 18; the five suspended ones in Announcement No. 57.

What is controlled and what is suspended?

One measure is in force for rare earths: Announcement No. 18 of Apr 4, 2025, which licenses seven elements. Six announcements of Oct 9, 2025 are suspended until Nov 10, 2026 by Announcement No. 70. Separate Chinese measures on US military users and on Japan remain.

China's rare earth and related export-control measures since 2024, with their status on Oct 1, 2026
MeasureDateWhat it coversStatus
Announcement No. 18Apr 4, 2025Seven elements: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium. Metals, alloys, targets, oxides, compounds and some magnets need a license.In force
Announcement No. 57Oct 9, 2025Licensing from Nov 8, 2025Five more elements: europium, holmium, erbium, thulium and ytterbium, and their metals, oxides, alloys and compounds.Suspended to Nov 10, 2026
Announcement No. 61Oct 9, 2025Phased in from Dec 1, 2025Foreign-made products that contain 0.1% or more Chinese-origin rare earths by value, and products made with Chinese rare earth technologies. China's first extraterritorial rare earth rule.Suspended to Nov 10, 2026
Announcement No. 62Oct 9, 2025Technologies for rare earth mining, smelting, separation, magnet making and recycling, and technical services such as commissioning and maintenance.Suspended to Nov 10, 2026
Announcement No. 58Oct 9, 2025Licensing from Nov 8, 2025Not rare earths: high-energy lithium-ion batteries, cathode materials and graphite anode materials.Suspended to Nov 10, 2026
Announcements No. 55 and 56Oct 9, 2025Also part of the October package and also suspended. The sources checked do not describe them in detail.Suspended to Nov 10, 2026
Announcement No. 70Nov 7, 2025The suspension itself: it pauses Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 61 and 62 until Nov 10, 2026.The suspension
Announcement No. 46, Article 1Dec 3, 2024Bans exports of dual-use items to US military users.In force
Announcement No. 46, Article 2Dec 3, 2024Stricter licensing of gallium, germanium, antimony and similar items for the US. Suspended by Announcement No. 72 of Nov 9, 2025.Suspended to Nov 27, 2026
Announcement No. 1 of 2026Jan 6, 2026Bans exports of dual-use items to Japanese military end users and military uses, and makes re-exporters in other countries liable.In force (Japan)

Descriptions of Nos. 57, 58, 61 and 62 and of the suspensions follow law-firm summaries and MOFCOM's own remarks; Announcement No. 18 follows MOFCOM's published text. Announcements No. 10 of 2025 (tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, indium) also remains in force and is not about rare earths.

What is the timeline of China's rare earth export controls?

China's controls moved from technology bans (2010 to 2023) to licensing of seven elements (Apr 4, 2025), then to a broader package on Oct 9, 2025 that was suspended on Nov 7, 2025 until Nov 10, 2026. The White House fact sheets from the two 2026 summits do not mention an extension.

Dated events, oldest first
  1. Sept 2010 Shipments to Japan stall History Rare earth shipments to Japan stalled after a ship collision near disputed islands. China denied imposing an embargo.
  2. Aug 1, 2023 Gallium and germanium licensing begins History China begins licensing exports of gallium and germanium items.
  3. Dec 2023 Magnet-making technology export ban In force China adds rare earth magnet-making technology to its existing ban on exporting refining technology (press reports).
  4. Dec 3, 2024 Announcement No. 46 Article 1 in force Bans dual-use exports to US military users (Article 1) and tightens licensing of some critical minerals for the US (Article 2).
  5. Apr 4, 2025 Announcement No. 18: seven elements need a license In force Samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium items need a Chinese export license, effective the day it was issued.
  6. Oct 9, 2025 Six announcements widen the controls Suspended Five more elements (No. 57), battery and graphite materials (No. 58), a rule reaching foreign-made products with 0.1% or more Chinese-origin rare earths by value (No. 61) and technology controls (No. 62), plus Nos. 55 and 56.
  7. Oct 30, 2025 Trump and Xi meet in Busan, South Korea Summit The meeting produced a trade truce that included the one-year suspensions described below.
  8. Nov 1, 2025 White House fact sheet US statement The White House says China will suspend the October measures worldwide and issue general licenses for rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for US end users and their suppliers. Law-firm notes say China's own announcements do not mention general licenses.
  9. Nov 7, 2025 Announcement No. 70: the suspension Suspended MOFCOM and Customs suspend Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 61 and 62 until Nov 10, 2026. After the Kuala Lumpur talks MOFCOM had said the US side would suspend its Affiliates Rule for one year.
  10. Nov 9, 2025 Announcement No. 72 Suspended Suspends Article 2 of Announcement No. 46 until Nov 27, 2026.
  11. Jan 6, 2026 Announcement No. 1 of 2026 In force (Japan) Bans dual-use exports to Japanese military end users and military uses, with liability for re-exporters in other countries.
  12. May 17, 2026 White House fact sheet after the Beijing summit US statement The White House says China will address US concerns about shortages of rare earths and other critical minerals, including yttrium, scandium, neodymium and indium, and about limits on selling rare earth equipment and technology.
  13. Sept 25, 2026 White House fact sheet on Xi state visit US statement The White House says the two countries "continue to work on" US concerns about rare earth shortages, with the goal of returning shipment levels to appropriate levels. It does not mention extending the Nov 10 suspension.
  14. Nov 10, 2026 Suspension of Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 61 and 62 ends Next The end date set by Announcement No. 70.
  15. Nov 27, 2026 Suspension of Article 2 of Announcement No. 46 ends Next The end date set by Announcement No. 72.

What happens when the suspension ends on Nov 10, 2026?

China's suspension of six Oct 9, 2025 announcements ends on Nov 10, 2026. Announcement No. 70 sets the end date, and the sources checked do not say what follows. Unless China extends or replaces the suspension, the suspended measures are due to apply again. The Apr 2025 licensing stays in force either way.

The sources checked report no extension as of Oct 1, 2026. The two White House fact sheets from the 2026 summits mention continued work on supply shortages but not the Nov 10 date.

Three ways it could go

  • Extended The suspension is renewed The October 2025 measures stay paused. The Apr 2025 licensing of seven elements continues as it does today.
  • Lapses The suspension ends on schedule The five extra elements, the 0.1% rule for foreign-made products and the technology controls become applicable again unless China issues something else.
  • Replaced China issues general licenses or a new rule The White House said in Nov 2025 that general licenses would be issued for US end users. China's own announcements do not mention them, so their scope is unconfirmed.

This page reports dates and statements. It does not forecast what China will do.

How do China's controls shape US rare earth projects and policy?

China's controls are a central reason the US government funds non-Chinese supply. They raised the value of heavy rare earths and magnets made outside China, and they sit behind the Pentagon deal with MP Materials, the Jan 1, 2027 defense sourcing rule and Project Vault.

Which US projects, companies and states does this touch?

The pages below carry the figures, the sources and the dates for each project or company named here.

Questions about China's rare earth export controls

Has China banned rare earth exports?

No. China requires an export license for listed rare earth items and decides each application case by case. Seven elements have needed licenses since Apr 4, 2025, and a wider package from Oct 9, 2025 is suspended until Nov 10, 2026.

Which rare earth elements does China control?

Samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium are licensed under Announcement No. 18. Europium, holmium, erbium, thulium and ytterbium were added on Oct 9, 2025 and are suspended until Nov 10, 2026. Neodymium and praseodymium are not listed.

What is the Nov 10, 2026 deadline?

It is the end of China's one-year suspension of six Oct 9, 2025 announcements (Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 61 and 62), set by MOFCOM Announcement No. 70 of Nov 7, 2025. The sources checked report no extension as of Oct 1, 2026.

Does the suspension cover the April 2025 controls?

No. The Apr 4, 2025 licensing of seven elements was not suspended. The White House said in Nov 2025 that China would issue general licenses for rare earths to US end users, but law-firm summaries note China's own announcements do not mention them.

What is the 0.1% rule?

Announcement No. 61 would require a Chinese license for foreign-made products that contain 0.1% or more Chinese-origin rare earths by value, and for products made with Chinese rare earth technologies. It is suspended until Nov 10, 2026.

How do the controls affect US magnet makers?

Magnets that contain terbium or dysprosium, and samarium magnets, are controlled items under Announcement No. 18. US makers that depend on Chinese heavy rare earths need Chinese licenses, which is one reason the US funds separation and metal plants at home.

Sources and verification

Each profile lists its sources, a confidence grade and a verification date. Order of authority: official records (SEC filings, agency documents), company documents and technical reports, research papers, then independent press. Syndicated copies and reference works are labeled and are never the only source for a number. Company-reported figures are labeled as such, and non-binding deals are labeled "letter of intent" or "conditional".

Tags show what kind of source each link is. How sources are ranked

Policy and funding

Which other policy explainers are there?

Nine explainers cover the foreign controls, defense rules, permitting steps and funding programs behind the projects in this directory.