Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-10 10:41Core Viewpoint - China has significantly escalated its control over rare earth elements, extending restrictions from just metals and products to the entire industry chain and overseas derivatives, marking a qualitative leap in its regulatory approach [4][9][24]. Group 1: Policy Changes - On October 9, the Ministry of Commerce of China issued six announcements, with the 61st and 62nd being particularly impactful, as they broadened the scope of export restrictions to include the entire rare earth industry chain and related technologies [4][9]. - The new regulations introduce an "extraterritorial jurisdiction" mechanism, requiring permits for exports of rare earth items containing over 0.1% specific Chinese-origin rare earth metals or utilizing Chinese extraction and refining technologies [11][15]. Group 2: Industry Impact - China's rare earth production in 2023 reached 240,000 tons, accounting for 68.6% of global output, solidifying its position as the only country with a complete industry chain from mining to refining and manufacturing [9][26]. - The new policy has caused immediate concern among U.S. rare earth companies, particularly MP Materials, which has relied heavily on China for processing and lacks the capability to handle heavy rare earths [17][20]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - The policy shift signifies a transition from merely defending resources to establishing rule-making authority in the global rare earth trade, allowing China to define the game rules rather than just adhering to them [24][29]. - The new regulations are expected to disrupt previous strategies employed by other countries to circumvent Chinese controls, effectively closing loopholes that allowed for the processing of Chinese rare earths in third countries [13][15].