China Hits Back at Trump’s Tariffs with Rare Earth Restrictions — Wipes Over $500M from Crypto Market

Group 1: Export Controls and Market Impact - China has tightened export controls on rare earth magnets, leading to a $7 billion sell-off in cryptocurrencies and escalating tensions with the U.S. [1] - The new measures expand existing restrictions to five additional rare earth elements, requiring export approval for products containing more than 0.1% of Chinese-sourced rare earths [3][4] - China's rare earth exports fell by 31% in September, indicating a slowdown prior to the latest restrictions [5] Group 2: Industry Implications - With China controlling over 90% of global rare earth processing capacity, the new policy raises concerns about supply chain disruptions and increased production costs worldwide [4] - The review process for export licenses has become more stringent, with applications facing longer approval times and additional documentation requests [4][5] - The tightening of controls has already led to magnet shortages and temporary shutdowns at automotive plants earlier this year [5] Group 3: Government Responses - China's Ministry of Commerce defended the export controls as legitimate actions to refine the export management system and safeguard national security [6] - In response, President Trump announced a 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, accusing China of aggressive export tactics [7]