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China – the New Hegemon in Technology and International Trade – not so benign after all.

June 22, 2026

China dominates the global rare earth elements (REE) supply chain-from reserves and mining to processing and manufacturing-through state-backed investment, low-cost production, and export policy, making it critical to electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, and defense systems. In April 2025, China introduced export license requirements on seven medium and heavy REEs and related products, framed as national security and non-proliferation measures rather than outright bans. In October 2025, controls expanded to cover twelve of the seventeen total REEs and restricted mining and extraction technology. Following a US-China summit in November 2025, Beijing suspended these expanded measures for one year, a move the EU welcomed as stabilizing for AI and green-tech supply chains. Meanwhile, the U.S. and others continue investing in domestic and alternative REE sources, reflecting the broader weaponization of REEs in U.S.-China strategic rivalry.