China targets MP Materials with export controls in rare earths escalation

Beijing adds the US miner to its restricted list, tightening supply chain constraints for Washington's defense-backed critical minerals push.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-06-22 08:27 UTC · 1 min read

China has placed MP Materials on its export control list, directly targeting the US rare earth producer in a widening trade dispute over critical minerals.

The move, reported by the Australian Financial Review, adds the company to a roster of ten US firms Beijing has restricted, focusing on entities involved in defense and mining sectors.

MP Materials, the largest shareholder of which is Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, is a central component of Washington’s strategy to build alternative supply chains for minerals essential to advanced manufacturing and defense.

The Pentagon holds a stake in the company, underscoring the strategic importance of its operations to US national security interests.

The export controls represent a direct countermeasure to US efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths.

By restricting MP Materials, Beijing aims to complicate the logistics and processing capabilities of US firms attempting to establish independent supply lines.