China Implements Export Controls on Certain Medium and Heavy Rare Earth Materials

According to the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items, and with the approval of the State Council, China has decided to implement export controls on the following items to safeguard national security, interests, and fulfill international non-proliferation obligations:

(a) 1C902.a Samarium metal, alloys containing samarium, and related products:

1) Samarium-cobalt alloy;

2) Samarium-iron alloy;

3) Samarium-nickel alloy;

4) Samarium-aluminum alloy;

5) Samarium-magnesium alloy.

1) Samarium target;

2) Samarium-cobalt alloy target;

3) Samarium-iron alloy target.

(b) 1C902.b Samarium oxide and its mixtures (HS Code: 2846901940, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(c) 1C902.c Samarium-containing compounds and their mixtures (HS Code: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

(a) 1C903.a Gadolinium metal, alloys containing gadolinium, and related products:

1) Gadolinium-magnesium alloy;

2) Gadolinium-aluminum alloy.

1) Gadolinium target;

2) Gadolinium-iron alloy target;

3) Gadolinium-cobalt alloy target.

(b) 1C903.b Gadolinium oxide and its mixtures (HS Code: 2846901930, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(c) 1C903.c Gadolinium-containing compounds and their mixtures (HS Code: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

(a) 1C904.a Terbium metal, alloys containing terbium, and related products:

1) Terbium-cobalt alloy;

1) Terbium-cobalt-iron alloy.

1) Terbium target;

2) Terbium-cobalt alloy target.

(b) 1C904.b Terbium oxide and its mixtures (HS Code: 2846901600, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(c) 1C904.c Terbium-containing compounds and their mixtures (HS Code: 2846902100, 2846902810, 2846903100, 2846903910, 2846904200, 2846904820, 2846909300, 2846909920, 3824999922).

(a) 1C905.a Dysprosium metal, alloys containing dysprosium, and related products:

1) Dysprosium-iron alloy;

2) Terbium-dysprosium-iron alloy.

1) Dysprosium target;

2) Terbium-dysprosium-iron alloy target.

(b) 1C905.b Dysprosium oxide and its mixtures (HS Code: 2846901500, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(c) 1C905.c Dysprosium-containing compounds and their mixtures (HS Code: 2846902200, 2846902810, 2846903200, 2846903910, 2846904300, 2846904820, 2846909400, 2846909920, 3824999922).

(a) 1C906.a Lutetium metal, alloys containing lutetium, and related products:

1) Lutetium metal (HS Code: 2805301910).

2) Lutetium-ytterbium alloy.

3) Lutetium target materials (HS Code: 3824999922, 8486909110).

(b) 1C906.b Lutetium oxide and its mixtures (HS Code: 2846901800, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(c) 1C906.c Lutetium-containing compounds and their mixtures (HS Code: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

(a) 1C907.a Scandium metal, alloys containing scandium, and related products:

1) Scandium-aluminum alloy;

2) Scandium-magnesium alloy;

3) Scandium-copper alloy.

(b) 1C907.b Scandium oxide and its mixtures (HS Code: 2846901980, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(c) 1C907.c Scandium-containing compounds and their mixtures (HS Code: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

(a) 1C908.a Yttrium metal, alloys containing yttrium, and related products:

1) Yttrium-aluminum alloy;

2) Yttrium-magnesium alloy;

3) Yttrium-nickel alloy;

4) Yttrium-copper alloy;

5) Yttrium-iron alloy.

1) Yttrium target;

2) Yttrium-aluminum alloy target;

3) Yttrium-zirconium alloy target.

(b) 1C908.b Yttrium oxide and its mixtures (HS Code: 2846901100, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(c) 1C908.c Yttrium-containing compounds and their mixtures (HS Code: 2846902600, 2846902810, 2846903600, 2846903910, 2846904600, 2846904820, 2846909690, 2846909920, 3824999922).

Notes:

1) The alloys listed under 1C902.a.2, 1C903.a.2, 1C904.a.2, 1C905.a.2, 1C906.a.2, 1C907.a.2, and 1C908.a.2 include forms such as ingots, blocks, bars, wires, sheets, rods, plates, tubes, particles, powders, etc.

2) The target materials listed under 1C902.a.3, 1C903.a.3, 1C904.a.3, 1C905.a.3, 1C906.a.3, 1C907.a.3, and 1C908.a.3 include forms such as plates, tubes, etc.

3) The permanent magnetic materials listed under 1C902.a.4, 1C904.a.4, and 1C905.a.4 include magnets or magnetic powders.

4) The oxides, compounds, and their mixtures listed under 1C902.b, 1C902.c, 1C903.b, 1C903.c, 1C904.b, 1C904.c, 1C905.b, 1C905.c, 1C906.b, 1C906.c, 1C907.b, 1C907.c, 1C908.b, and 1C908.c include, but are not limited to, powders, etc.

Exporters must apply for a license from the competent government authorities in accordance with the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items when exporting these items. Exporters are required to identify controlled items, and during customs declaration, they should indicate whether the items fall under export control. For controlled items, the dual-use export control code must be provided. Customs will challenge any discrepancies in this information, and the goods will not be released during the period of such inquiries.

This announcement comes into effect immediately upon publication. The List of Dual-Use Items under Export Control of the People's Republic of China has been updated accordingly.

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs

April 4, 2025

Question: On April 4, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs released an announcement regarding the implementation of export controls on certain medium and heavy rare earth items. Could you elaborate on the reasoning behind China's decision to introduce this export control policy?

Answer: In accordance with the "Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China" and other relevant laws and regulations, on April 4, the Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the General Administration of Customs, issued an announcement on the export control measures for seven categories of medium and heavy rare earth-related items, including samarium (Sm), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), lutetium (Lu), scandium (Sc), and yttrium (Y), effective immediately upon release.

The purpose of these export controls, as enacted by the Chinese government, is to better safeguard national security and interests, and fulfill international obligations related to non-proliferation. These items have dual-use characteristics, meaning they are applicable for both civilian and military purposes, and imposing export controls on them is a common international practice. As a responsible global power, China has included these items on the control list, which demonstrates its firm commitment to maintaining world peace and regional stability. China is also willing to enhance communication and cooperation through bilateral export control dialogue mechanisms, promoting compliant trade practices.