China Exploring Options To Cripple U.S. Defense Contractors By Limiting Rare Earth Exports

Australian Financial Review/Financial Times: China targets rare earth export curbs to hobble US defence 

Beijing/Washington | China is exploring whether it can hurt US defence contractors by limiting the export of rare earth minerals crucial for the manufacture of F-35 fighter jets and other sophisticated weaponry, according to people involved in a government consultation. 

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) last month proposed draft controls on the production and export of 17 rare earth minerals in China, which controls about 80 per cent of global supply.

Industry executives said government officials had asked them how badly companies in the US and Europe, including defence contractors, would be affected if China restricted rare earth exports during a bilateral dispute. 

“The government wants to know if the US may have trouble making F-35 fighter jets if China imposes an export ban,” said a Chinese government adviser who asked not to be identified. 

Industry executives added that Beijing wanted to better understand how quickly the US could secure alternative sources of rare earths and increase its own production capacity. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The U.S. is taking steps to break China's monopoly on these minerals .... The US is taking steps towards breaking China’s rare earths monopoly (Quartz). 

 More News On China Exploring Options To Cripple U.S. Defense Contractors By Limiting Rare Earth Exports 

China Eyes Rare Earth Export Curbs for U.S. Defense, FT Says -- Bloomberg 

China considering rare earth export controls to target US defense production: Report -- Taiwan News China may exercise ‘nuclear option’ against US defense industry with rare-earths export ban – reports -- RT 

China Threatens To Hobble US Defense Industry By Limiting Export Of Rare-Earth Metals -- Zero Hedge