China will introduce quotas for the supply of metals to the United States
US military hardware companies are likely to have limited supplies of Chinese rare earths. This was announced on Monday by the Global Times, citing an economic planner from China who confirmed that industry experts had proposed such a measure as part of export controls.
China is the world's leading producer of rare earths, a group of 17 valuable minerals used in everything from consumer electronics to military hardware such as missile guidance systems, jet engines, satellites and lasers.
Numerous state-owned Chinese media reports have consistently raised the issue of China's possible restriction of mineral supplies to gain leverage in its trade dispute with the United States.
The Global Times commentary followed a statement by the spokesman for China's National Economic Planning Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), earlier Monday that the NDRC will study and develop appropriate policies on rare earth metals as soon as possible. p>
The NDRC recently held three symposia on rare earths to hear the views of industry experts, including proposals for export controls, according to transcript from NDRC spokesman Meng Wei.
China's rare earths exports fell 16% in May from April to 3,640 tons, according to customs data released last week.
China will also step up efforts to combat illegal mining of rare earths and will promote the environmentally friendly development of the rare earth industry, which will also limit the availability of certain components on the open market.