China’s shipments of rare-earth magnets to the United States and the European Union fell in September, before Beijing raised tensions by tightening export restrictions amid tumultuous trade talks between the world’s two largest economies. Chinese customs data showed that exports of small magnets to the United States fell for the second time in a row to 421 tons, from 590 tons in August. It came after separate data published on Saturday revealed an overall decline in exports of rare earth products, a category dominated by magnets. Also read: China’s new restrictions on rare earths ignite a race to supply powerful weapons to China against America. Rare magnets, used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and military equipment, are among the most powerful economic weapons Beijing is using in its confrontation with Washington. In April, China stepped up pressure on the United States by imposing export restrictions that threatened to cause severe global shortages. Then, early this month, it announced plans to significantly expand the scope of those restrictions, claiming their aim was to prevent supplies from reaching the world’s defense industries. Donald Trump has included the issue of rare earth elements among his three most prominent demands from Beijing, with the resumption of negotiations between the two sides in the face of a fragile trade standoff nearing completion. The two leaders are scheduled to meet in South Korea next month, and Trump told reporters on Sunday: “I don’t want them to play the rare earth game with us.”
A decrease in China’s exports of rare earth magnets to America ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting
