Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 18, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleChina's Commerce Ministry issues new rare earth export licenses to expedite shipments. Some Chinese exporters and Ford suppliers have received approvals, while European firms await confirmation.
By Joe Cash
BEIJING, Dec 18 (Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that it had granted several general licenses for rare earth exports, a new category of permit that aims to speed up shipments of the vital elements.
Responding to a question from state media about reports that Beijing had issued some of the licenses for European firms, a ministry spokesperson said applications had been approved but did not specifically mention Europe.
"Some exporters have already preliminarily met the basic requirements for applying for a general license," the spokesperson said at a regular weekly briefing. "As far as I know, some applications for general licenses submitted by Chinese exporters have already been received and approved."
Reuters has reported that suppliers to U.S. automaker Ford have received the new licenses. However, no European company has yet confirmed that they have received one.
European Commission trade chief Maros Sefcovic told Bloomberg television this week the bloc has heard reports of its companies receiving licenses but there were still few details.
(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Rare earth elements are a group of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table that are critical for various high-tech applications, including electronics, renewable energy technologies, and defense systems.
The Commerce Ministry in China is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to trade, investment, and economic cooperation, including overseeing export licenses and regulations.
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