China has confirmed its commitment to continue exporting rare earth materials to Europe, regardless of the potential extension of a U.S. trade agreement set to expire in January. Speaking to CNBC, He Yadong, a spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry, reiterated Beijing’s willingness to approve licenses for rare earth exports to Europe.
This decision follows China’s tightening of export restrictions on rare earths last October, which included a ban on products containing even minimal amounts of China-sourced rare earths. These restrictions were implemented in response to a U.S. regulation that expanded its blacklist, impacting numerous Chinese entities. However, in late October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a temporary agreement, suspending certain measures for one year. A recent extension of this truce by two additional months was announced by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prior to a summit between the two leaders.
The trade relations between the European Union and China showed signs of improvement last week when European Trade Commissioner Maroš Sefčovič met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing. During this meeting, China expressed its readiness to establish a "green channel" mechanism aimed at facilitating the flow of rare earths to Europe. In return, China is seeking support from the EU for its imports of certain dual-use products.
The European Commission is currently convening in Brussels to discuss further details of trade negotiations with China, emphasizing the ongoing importance of these discussions amid the complex international trade landscape.
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