Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 4, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
EU and China discussed rare earth supply stability, focusing on general licences amid Beijing's export controls. The EU seeks similar benefits as the US.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -EU and Chinese officials in a meeting last week have discussed how to maintain supply of rare earths on which Beijing imposed controls in April, including possible general licences, the European Commission said on Tuesday.
The White House said on Saturday that China will issue general licences for export of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers. The EU has not secured the same benefit.
The EU and Chinese officials meeting on Friday had, however, discussed how to maintain rare earth supply chain stability and committed to further engage on licensing facilitation measures, "including discussing general licences".
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Bart Meijer)
Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements used in various high-tech applications, including electronics, renewable energy technologies, and military equipment.
A general license is a regulatory approval that allows specific activities or transactions without the need for individual applications or permits.
Supply chain stability refers to the consistent and reliable flow of goods, services, and information throughout the supply chain, minimizing disruptions.
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