China, the world’s leading processor of rare earths, implemented a restriction on the export of technology that can extract and separate crucial metals on Thursday. This prohibition came after China revised a list of technologies considered essential to the country’s national security.
In December last year, the Ministry of Commerce solicited the public’s comment about the possibility of including the technology in its “Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export.”
Additionally, it prohibited the export of manufacturing technology for rare earth metals and alloy materials and for preparing particular rare earth magnets.
This action comes when Europe and the United States are making a concerted effort to wean themselves off rare earths sourced from China, which is responsible for 90 percent of the world’s refined output.
China has previously used its dominance in rare earth production to influence global markets and trade policies. Restrictions or regulations on exporting rare earth processing technologies could impact global supply chains and industries reliant on these materials.
A collection of seventeen metals known as rare earths are used to produce magnets in electric automobiles, wind turbines, and other electrical devices.
China has perfected the solvent extraction technique for purifying essential minerals. Western rare earth businesses have had difficulty deploying this process due to the complexity of the technology involved and worries about pollution.
Comment Template