China is set to continuously optimize its licensing procedures and reduce review times as part of its latest export control measures on rare earth elements, aiming to facilitate legitimate trade more effectively, according to a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce. These measures, which align with legal and regulatory frameworks, are designed to safeguard China's national security and global common security by preventing the illegal use of rare earths, especially in weapons of mass destruction.
The ministry spokesperson, He Yongqian, clarified that these new export control actions are routine improvements in China's export control system and are not targeted at any specific country or region. All applications for compliant exports intended for civil use will be approved. Prior notification was given to relevant countries and regions before announcing these controls, and ongoing communication on facilitation is underway to ensure smooth implementation.
The spokesperson also expressed China's strong dissatisfaction with certain restrictive measures taken by the United States, such as the expansion of the U.S. "entity-list" export restrictions and the imposition of additional port fees on Chinese ships following a Section 301 investigation. China urges the U.S. to correct these practices immediately, describing them as unilateral and protectionist actions that harm China's industries, raise inflation in the U.S., reduce the competitiveness of U.S. ports, and negatively impact American employment.
China highlighted that such U.S. measures have disrupted global supply chains and caused instability in the international shipping industry. In response, China has implemented defensive countermeasures aimed at maintaining a level playing field in shipping and shipbuilding markets globally.
Additionally, after recent economic and trade talks in Madrid, the U.S. introduced 20 restrictive measures against China in just over 20 days, severely damaging China’s interests and undermining the positive momentum of the talks. China remains strongly opposed to these actions and calls upon the U.S. to respect the outcomes of the talks and engage in meaningful dialogue based on mutual respect to address concerns adequately.
This approach reflects China’s commitment to balancing national security with facilitating legitimate trade in rare earth elements, critical resources essential for various high-tech industries worldwide.