While engaging in a war of words with Washington, China’s commerce ministry has sent a carefully targeted message to the global business community: don’t worry, legitimate civilian exports of rare earths are safe. This assurance is a strategic effort to calm industry fears and isolate the U.S. government’s aggressive political stance.
The message came as part of Beijing’s defense of its new export controls on minerals like holmium and ytterbium. After President Trump framed these controls as a “very hostile” act, China moved to clarify their scope and intent, likely to prevent a mass panic among its international customers.
“China’s export controls are not export bans,” a ministry spokesperson emphasized. “All applications of compliant export for civil use can get approval, so that relevant businesses have no need to worry.” This is a direct appeal to multinational corporations that rely on these materials, from automakers to electronics giants.
The strategy appears to be twofold. First, it seeks to mitigate the economic damage to China’s own rare-earth industry by reassuring buyers. Second, it attempts to drive a wedge between the Trump administration and the U.S. business community by portraying the White House’s reaction as an overblown and unnecessary panic.
By signaling that the door for business remains open, China is trying to contain the conflict to the political sphere. It is a sophisticated move designed to show that it can be a reliable supplier, even while it reserves the right to take “resolute measures” against the U.S. government’s trade policies.
China’s Message to Business: Don’t Worry, Civil Exports Are Safe
