China Intensifies Measures on Heavy Rare Earths, Super Hard Materials, Lithium Batteries...

According to the website of the Ministry of Commerce, on October 9, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs issued four notices successively, announcing export controls on superhard material-related items, certain rare earth equipment and raw materials, certain heavy and medium rare earth-related items, lithium batteries, and artificial graphite anode materials.

Previously, the Ministry of Commerce announced decisions to implement export controls on rare earth-related technologies and on rare earth items abroad.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce answers questions from journalists regarding the implementation of export controls on superhard materials and related items

Q: On October 9, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued a notice, implementing export controls on superhard materials, rare earth equipment and raw materials, holmium and five other heavy and medium rare earths, lithium batteries, and artificial graphite anode materials. What considerations does China have in introducing this export control policy?

A: According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Export Control and other relevant laws and regulations, on October 9, the Ministry of Commerce, together with the General Administration of Customs, issued a notice on implementing export control measures for superhard materials, rare earth equipment and raw materials, holmium and five other heavy and medium rare earths, lithium batteries, and artificial graphite anode materials, which will take effect on November 8. Previously, we had informed the relevant countries and regions.

The items listed above have obvious dual-use characteristics. China implements export control measures in accordance with the law, which is in line with international practices, better maintaining national security and interests, and better fulfilling international obligations such as non-proliferation. The Chinese government is willing to work with all countries to maintain the stability and smoothness of the global supply chain. These measures are not targeted at any specific country or region. For legitimate and compliant export applications, the Chinese government will approve them after review. At the same time, the Chinese government is willing to engage in dialogue and communication on export control policies and practices through bilateral export control dialogue mechanisms, promoting and facilitating compliant trade together.

The full text of the relevant announcement is as follows:

Announcement by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on Implementing Export Controls on Superhard Material-Related Items

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 55 of 2025: Decision to Implement Export Controls on Superhard Material-Related Items

According to the provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Export Control, 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 of the People's Republic of China, to safeguard national security and interests, fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, and after approval by the State Council, it is decided to implement export controls on the following items:

1. 2C902.a. Synthetic diamond powder with an average particle size less than or equal to 50 μm (reference tariff number: 71051020)

2. 2C902.b. Synthetic diamond single crystals with an average particle size greater than 50 μm and less than or equal to 500 μm (reference tariff number: 71051020)

Note: 2C902.b does not regulate cultured diamonds used for decoration and jewelry.

3. 2C902.c. Synthetic diamond wire saws with all of the following characteristics:

1. Wire diameter less than or equal to 45 μm;

2. Diamond average particle size less than or equal to 8 μm;

3. Breaking tensile force less than or equal to 16 N.

4. 2C902.d. Synthetic diamond grinding wheels (reference tariff number: 68042110) with all of the following characteristics:

1. Diamond tooth hardness less than or equal to 30 HRB;

2. Diamond average particle size less than or equal to 5 μm;

3. Maximum operating speed greater than or equal to 40 m/s.

5. 2B005.b. Direct current arc plasma jet chemical vapor deposition (DCPCVD) equipment (reference tariff number: 84798999)

6. 2E902 DCPCVD process technology

Exporters exporting the aforementioned items shall apply for permission to the State Council's commerce authority in accordance with the provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Export Control and the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items.

Exporters shall be responsible for the authenticity of the goods declared for customs clearance, strengthen identification of exported items, and if they belong to controlled items, they must indicate "belonging to dual-use items" in the remarks column of the customs declaration form and list the dual-use item export control code; if they do not belong to controlled items but their parameters, indicators, performance, etc., are close, they must indicate "not belonging to controlled items" in the remarks column of the customs declaration form and fill in the specific parameters and indicators. If the information filled in is incomplete, inaccurate, or questionable in terms of authenticity, customs will legally question it, and the export goods will not be released during the questioning period.

This announcement will take effect on November 8, 2025. The "List of Dual-Use Items Subject to Export Control of the People's Republic of China" will be updated accordingly.

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs

October 9, 2025

Announcement by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on Implementing Export Controls on Certain Rare Earth Equipment and Raw Materials-Related Items

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 56 of 2025: Decision to Implement Export Controls on Certain Rare Earth Equipment and Raw Materials-Related Items

1. 2B902 Rare earth production and processing equipment

(1) 2B902.a. Centrifugal extraction equipment used for rare earth production and processing.

(2) 2B902.b. Ion-type rare earth ore intelligent continuous impurity removal precipitation equipment with a daily leaching solution capacity of more than or equal to 5000 m³.

(3) 2B902.c. Rare earth calcination kilns with all of the following characteristics:

1. Size range Φ1.8×20 m~Φ4.6×80 m;

2. Kiln lining materials, including graphite bricks, high-alumina bricks, mullite bricks, etc., resistant to concentrated sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid corrosion and heat-resistant materials;

3. Reaction temperature less than or equal to 850 ℃.

(4) 2B902.d. Extraction tanks with a mixed chamber volume of 0.5~14.2m³ used for rare earth separation and purification.

(5) 2B902.e. Ion adsorption equipment used for rare earth separation and purification.

(6) 2B902.f. Precipitation crystallization reaction tank with a volume of 10~50 m³ used for rare earth.

(7) 2B902.g. Components for the items regulated in 2B902.f:

1. Precipitation crystallization agitator (reference tariff number: 84798999);

2. Agitator blade (reference tariff number: 84799090);

3. Motor with output power of 5.5~37 kW.

(8) 2B902.h. Rare earth resistance furnace with all of the following characteristics (reference tariff number: 85141990):

1. Reaction temperature 320~650 ℃;

2. Components made of corrosion-resistant materials such as manganese steel and nickel-chromium alloy steel.

(9) 2B902.i. Any of the following equipment used for rare earth metal electrolysis:

1. Electrolytic rectifier equipment;

2. Feeding equipment;

3. Rare earth metal siphoning furnace system;

4. Exhaust gas treatment equipment.

(10) 2B902.j. Rare earth electrolytic cell with all of the following characteristics (reference tariff number: 85433000):

1. Cell type is refractory brick built cell;

2. Anode is graphite material;

3. Cathode is tungsten material;

4. Current range 6000~30000 A;

5. Anode current density range 5~7 A/cm²;

6. Cathode current density range 1~2 A/cm².

(11) 2B902.k. Vacuum induction reduction furnace with all of the following characteristics:

1. Medium frequency power supply frequency 1~8 kHz;

2. Heating temperature 0~1700 ℃;

3. Vacuum degree greater than or equal to 1×10-3 Pa;

4. Melting capacity 10~300 kg.

(12) 2B902.l. Vacuum carbon tube furnace with all of the following characteristics:

1. Heating temperature 0~1700 ℃;

2. Vacuum degree greater than or equal to 1×10-3 Pa;

3. Melting capacity 10~300 kg.

(13) 2B902.m. Pulling method rare earth crystal growth furnace with all of the following characteristics (reference tariff number: 85142000):

1. Heating method is induction heating;

2. Maximum heating temperature greater than or equal to 2300 ℃;

3. Has automatic diameter control long crystal growth function.

(14) 2B902.n. Crucible下降 method rare earth crystal growth furnace with all of the following characteristics (reference tariff number: 85141990):

1. Heating method is resistance heating;

2. Maximum heating temperature greater than or equal to 1400℃;

3. Has multi-temperature zone heating function.

(15) 2B902.o. Rare earth permanent magnet vacuum induction casting furnace:

1. Batch vacuum induction casting furnace (reference tariff number: 85142000);

2. Induction heated vacuum melting furnace.

(16) 2B902.p. Components for the items regulated in 2B902.o:

1. Water-cooled cable;

2. Copper roll;

3. Crucible;

4. Tilt controller;

5. Cooling system.

(17) 2B902.q. Rare earth permanent magnet hydrogen crushing furnace:

1. Continuous atmosphere heat treatment furnace;

2. Rotating hydrogen crushing furnace;

3. Explosion-proof continuous hydrogen crushing furnace.

(18) 2B902.r. Components for the items regulated in 2B902.q:

1. Valve;

2. Hydrogen manifold.

(19) 2B902.s. Rare earth permanent magnet air mill with all of the following characteristics:

1. Particle size less than or equal to 5μm;

2. Powder total yield greater than or equal to 99%;

3. Oxygen content inside the system less than or equal to 80ppm.

(20) 2B902.t. Rare earth permanent magnet forming press with magnetic induction strength greater than or equal to 1.5T.

(21) 2B902.u. Automatic hot pressing equipment for rare earth permanent magnets.

(22) 2B902.v. Cold isostatic press for rare earth permanent magnets not regulated in 2B104 (reference tariff number: 84798310).

(23) 2B902.w. Any of the following rare earth permanent magnet vacuum sintering furnaces with cooling time less than or equal to 20 min, heating temperature 500~1200 ℃, and temperature uniformity within ±3 ℃ at 1000 ℃:

1. Single-body horizontal sintering furnace;

2. Continuous vacuum sintering furnace;

3. Vertical sintering furnace.

(24) 2B902.x. Equipment for processing rare earth magnets:

1. Multi-wire cutting machine;

2. Laser cutting equipment;

3. Automatic glue applying machine;

4. Vertical grinder;

5. Double-sided grinder;

6. End face grinder;

7. Through-type grinding machine.

(25) 2B902.y. Grain boundary diffusion equipment:

1. Physical vapor deposition magnetron sputtering coating equipment (reference tariff number: 84798999);

2. Rare earth permanent magnet vacuum diffusion furnace;

3. Rare earth permanent magnet screen printing device.

(26) 2B902.z. Shaft kiln with a size larger than or equal to Φ19×21 m for recycling and utilizing secondary rare earth resources.

2. 1C914 Rare earth raw materials-related items

(1) 1C914.a. Rare earth ore (reference tariff number: 25309020):

1. Monazite;

2. Ion adsorption type rare earth ore.

(2) 1C914.b. Rare earth ore flotation reagents containing hydroxamic acid or phosphate ester collectors.

(3) 1C914.c. Extractants used in rare earth production:

1. P507: 2-Ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (CAS 14802-03-0) (reference tariff number: 29319000);

2. P204: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (CAS 298-07-7) (reference tariff number: 29199000);

3. Naphthenic acid (CAS 1338-24-5) (reference tariff number: 38249999);

4. N235: Tri-octyldecyl amine (CAS 68814-95-9) (reference tariff number: 38249999);

5. C272: Bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphonic acid (CAS 83411-71-6).

This announcement will take effect on November 8, 2025. The "List of Dual-Use Items Subject to Export Control of the People's Republic of China" will be updated accordingly.

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs

October 9, 2025

Announcement by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on Implementing Export Controls on Certain Heavy and Medium Rare Earth-Related Items

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 57 of 2025: Decision to Implement Export Controls on Certain Heavy and Medium Rare Earth-Related Items

1. 1C909 Holmium-related items

(1) 1C909.a. Metallic holmium, alloys containing holmium, and related products:

1. Metallic holmium (reference tariff number: 28053019).

2. Alloys containing holmium:

a. Holmium-copper alloy;

b. Magnesium-holmium alloy;

c. Holmium-iron alloy.

3. Target materials containing holmium:

a. Holmium target;

b. Holmium-copper alloy target.

4. Permanent magnet materials containing holmium.

5. Crystal materials containing holmium.

6. Magnetocaloric materials containing holmium.

7. Magnetostrictive materials containing holmium.

(2) 1C909.b. Oxide of holmium and its mixtures.

(3) 1C909.c. Compounds and mixtures containing holmium.

2. 1C910 Erbium-related items

(1) 1C910.a. Metallic erbium, alloys containing erbium, and related products:

1. Metallic erbium (reference tariff number: 28053019).

2. Alloys containing erbium:

a. Erbium-aluminum alloy;

b. [Retained].

3. Target materials containing erbium:

a. Erbium target;

b. [Retained].

4. Crystal materials containing erbium.

5. Fiber optic materials containing erbium.

6. Hydrogen storage materials containing erbium.

7. Ceramic materials containing erbium.

(2) 1C910.b. Oxide of erbium and its mixtures.

(3) 1C910.c. Compounds and mixtures containing erbium.

3. 1C911 Thulium-related items

(1) 1C911.a. Metallic thulium, alloys containing thulium, and related products:

1. Metallic thulium (reference tariff number: 28053019).

2. Target materials containing thulium:

a. Thulium target;

b. [Retained].

3. Crystal materials containing thulium.

4. Luminescent materials containing thulium.

(2) 1C911.b. Oxide of thulium and its mixtures.

(3) 1C911.c. Compounds and mixtures containing thulium.

4. 1C912 Europium-related items

(1) 1C912.a. Metallic europium, alloys containing europium, and related products:

1. Metallic europium (reference tariff number: 28053019).

2. Alloys containing europium:

a. Magnesium-europium alloy;

b. [Retained].

3. Target materials containing europium:

a. Europium target;

b. [Retained].

4. Luminescent materials containing europium:

a. Phosphor;

b. [Retained].

5. Crystal materials containing europium.

6. Hydrogen absorption materials containing europium.

(2) 1C912.b. Oxide of europium and its mixtures.

(3) 1C912.c. Compounds and mixtures containing europium.

5. 1C913 Ytterbium-related items

(1) 1C913.a. Metallic ytterbium, alloys containing ytterbium, and related products:

1. Metallic ytterbium (reference tariff number: 28053019).

2. Target materials containing ytterbium:

a. Ytterbium target;

b. [Retained].

3. Crystal materials containing ytterbium.

4. Fiber optic materials containing ytterbium.

5. Thermal shielding coating materials containing ytterbium.

(2) 1C913.b. Oxide of ytterbium and its mixtures.

(3) 1C913.c. Compounds and mixtures containing ytterbium.

Notes:

1. The alloys covered in 1C909.a.2, 1C910.a.2, and 1C912.a.2 include forms such as ingots, blocks, bars, wires, sheets, rods, plates, tubes, granules, and powders.

2. The target materials covered in 1C909.a.3, 1C910.a.3, 1C911.a.2, 1C912.a.3, and 1C913.a.2 include forms such as sheets and tubes.

3. The permanent magnet materials covered in 1C909.a.4 include magnets or magnet powders.

4. The oxides, compounds, and mixtures covered in 1C909, 1C910, 1C911, 1C912, and 1C913 include, but are not limited to, forms such as powders.

This announcement will take effect on November 8, 2025. The "List of Dual-Use Items Subject to Export Control of the People's Republic of China" will be updated accordingly.

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs

October 9, 2025

Announcement by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on Implementing Export Controls on Lithium Batteries and Artificial Graphite Anode Materials-Related Items

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 58 of 2025: Decision to Implement Export Controls on Lithium Batteries and Artificial Graphite Anode Materials-Related Items

1. Lithium battery-related items

(1) 3A001 Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with energy density greater than or equal to 300 Wh/kg (including cells and battery packs) (reference tariff number: 85076000).

(2) 3B901.a. Equipment used for manufacturing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries:

1. Winding machine (reference tariff number: 84798999);

2. Stacking machine (reference tariff number: 84798999);

3. Filling machine (reference tariff number: 84798999);

4. Hot press;

5. Formation and capacity testing system;

6. Capacity testing cabinet.

(3) 3E901.a. Technology for producing the items regulated in 3A001.

2. Positive electrode material-related items

(1) 3C901.a.1. Phosphate iron positive electrode material with压实 density greater than or equal to 2.5 g/cm3 and specific capacity greater than or equal to 156 mAh/g (reference tariff number: 28429040).

(2) 3C901.a.2. Precursor materials for ternary positive electrode materials:

a. Nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide (reference tariff number: 28539030);

b. Nickel-cobalt-aluminum hydroxide (reference tariff number: 28539050).

(3) 3C901.a.3. Lithium-rich manganese-based positive electrode materials.

(4) 3B901.b. Equipment used for manufacturing positive electrode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries:

1. Roller kiln;

2. High-speed mixer;

3. Sand mill;

4. Air classifier.

3. Graphite negative electrode material-related items

(1) 3C901.b.1. Artificial graphite negative electrode materials.

(2) 3C902.b.2. Negative electrode materials composed of artificial graphite and natural graphite.

(3) 3B901.c.1. Equipment for the granulation process of graphite negative electrode materials:

a. Vertical granulator with a granulation volume greater than or equal to 5 m3;

b. Continuous granulator with a granulation volume greater than or equal to 5 m3.

(4) 3B901.c.2. Graphitization equipment for producing graphite negative electrode materials:

a. Box furnace;

b. Acheson furnace;

c. Internal series furnace;

d. Continuous graphitization furnace.

(5) 3B901.c.3. Coating modification equipment for producing graphite negative electrode materials:

a. Fusion coating equipment with a volume greater than 300 L;

b. Spray drying equipment with a volume greater than 60 m3;

c. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) rotary kiln with a barrel diameter greater than 0.5 m.

(6) 3E901.b. Processes and technologies for producing graphite negative electrode materials:

1. Granulation process;

2. Continuous graphitization technology;

3. Liquid phase coating technology.

This announcement will take effect on November 8, 2025. The "List of Dual-Use Items Subject to Export Control of the People's Republic of China" will be updated accordingly.

Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs

October 9, 2025

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