The Trump administration has urged China to resume rare earth exports to Japan, saying that this is crucial for the stability of the global supply chain.
Nikkei News on Tuesday cited multiple anonymous American and Japanese diplomatic sources in reporting this information.
According to Chinese customs data, since December last year, China has basically stopped exporting heavy rare earths such as dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium oxide to Japan. Exports of gallium, a key metal needed for chip manufacturing, have also almost completely halted, with only a small quantity of yttrium oxide still being sporadically shipped.
During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers' meeting held earlier in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa Ryosei expressed concerns to the Chinese side about the rare earth export control measures.
According to data from Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Japan's annual rare earth demand of about 20,000 tons relies mainly on imports, with 70% expected to come from China in 2024.