US presses China on rare earth commitments four days before export-control pause lapses
Washington says the wider truce runs to January 2027, but no Chinese legal notice extends the rare earth pause, and US officials named rare earths in their call with Beijing.
What happened
On 6 November Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held a videoconference with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. According to USTR's readout, Greer 'emphasized the critical importance of China taking concrete actions to fully implement its past commitments, particularly as they relate to agricultural purchases, rare earths, and other critical minerals.'
Treasury's readout says Bessent pressed for China to fully and immediately implement its Busan commitments, 'raised concerns about recent Chinese actions', and said the US 'will closely assess China's implementation of the arrangement.' Reuters reported the call the same day. Under MOFCOM Announcement No. 70 of 2025, China's suspension of its October 2025 export-control package runs until 10 November 2026. US officials have said the broader trade truce was extended to 10 January 2027, but China has not published a notice extending the legal suspension.
Our take
Neither readout says what the 'recent Chinese actions' are, and neither mentions the 10 November date. Naming rare earths explicitly four days before the legal pause lapses suggests Washington is not satisfied with implementation so far.
There are three outcomes to watch: a late MOFCOM extension notice, a quiet lapse with licensing kept loose in practice, or a lapse followed by stricter enforcement. Only the last would immediately change supply, but either of the first two would leave buyers relying on Beijing's discretion.
Why it matters for AI infrastructure
The October 2025 package that is currently paused included extra rare earths, processing equipment and technology, and a rule covering foreign-made goods with Chinese rare earth content. If reinstated, it would reach magnet-containing components such as motors and power equipment that data-centre supply chains use.
Separate Chinese controls on gallium, germanium and graphite matter for chips, optical networking and batteries. Any hardening of the overall US-China posture raises the risk for all of them.
What we're watching
- A MOFCOM notice extending, amending or ending Announcement No. 70 before 10 November
- Any Chinese readout of the call
- Export licence approval times for rare earths and magnets after 10 November
- US responses if Washington judges China's implementation insufficient
Get takes like this every Sunday.
One free email with the week's export controls, list changes and price moves, and what they mean for AI infrastructure.
See a sample issue