China, the world's largest processor of rare earth metals, banned on Thursday the export of technology for the production of rare earth magnets, adding to the ban already in place on the technology for the extraction and separation of critical materials, UNN reports, citing Reuters.
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Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets that convert force into motion for use in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and electronics.
"This should be a clear statement that dependence on China in any part of the value chain is not sustainable," commented Nathan Picarsik, co-founder of geopolitical consulting firm Horizon Advisory.
In December last year, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce put up for public discussion a potential move to include the technology for making mari cobalt magnets, neodymium iron boron magnets, and cerium magnets in its "Catalog of Technologies whose Exports are Prohibited and Restricted."
The list also bans the technology for the production of rare earth calcium oxyborate and the technology for the production of rare earth metals, adding to the previously existing ban on the production of materials from rare earth alloys.
The catalog's stated goals include "protecting national security and the public interest."
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This year, China has significantly tightened its export rules for certain metals in an escalating struggle with the West for control of critical minerals.
In August, it introduced export permits for chip-making materials, gallium and germanium, and on December 1, it introduced similar requirements for several types of graphite.
"China is looking to maintain its dominance in the market," said Don Schwartz, CEO of American Rare Earths, which is developing a mine and has a processing plant for rare earth metals in Wyoming. - "It's a race now.
The decision to protect its rare earths technology comes as Europe and the United States are trying to wean themselves off rare earths from China, which accounts for almost 90% of global refined output.