China plans to punish Donald Trump, imposes ban on export of…, US, Japan, Germany in deep trouble due to…

New Delhi: The rising tension between the United States and China is now beginning to show its impact across the globe. The Xi Jinping government, on April 4, imposed a ban on the export of rare earth elements (REEs) and magnets. The latest move by China comes in response to the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The decision could lead to a significant shortage in the global supply of REEs.

According to a report by The New York Times, China has not yet established a licensing system for other countries. As a result, shipments have been halted at ports. Although China’s move specifically targets the US, its impact is being felt by other countries as well. China has banned the export of nearly half a dozen REEs, including yttrium and dysprosium. These elements are used in the manufacturing of jet engines, defense equipment, and advanced electronics.

It is important to note that China is the world’s largest producer of Rare Earth Elements (REE). The shipment disruptions at ports could lead to a global supply shortage. Major REE consumer countries like the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and Germany will be adversely affected by this.

Some Japanese companies have more than a year’s worth of stock, so they won’t face immediate difficulties. In 2010, due to a regional dispute in the South China Sea, China had halted REE exports to Japan for seven weeks.

Export ban was anticipated in advance

Experts from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) say that the export ban on REEs was anticipated in advance. They stated, “Various policies had already indicated that an export ban on REEs was imminent. China first weaponized REEs in 2010 by halting exports to Japan over a fishing trawler dispute. Between 2023 and 2025, China began imposing export restrictions on strategic materials to the U.S., including gallium, germanium, antimony, graphite, and tungsten.”

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