China introduced export licensing requirements for seven rare earth minerals.

Omissions

• The seven elements affected in April 2025 are medium/heavy rare earth ELEMENTS (samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium), not 'minerals' strictly speaking; the controls also covered related compounds, metals and rare-earth magnets.
• The 'seven' figure describes only the first wave. On 9 October 2025 China's Ministry of Commerce added five more elements (expanding coverage to twelve REEs) plus equipment and technology, so by the session date the total scope was substantially larger than seven.
• The measure was formally a licensing/authorisation requirement rather than an outright ban, and some licences were subsequently granted.
• The EPRS briefing confirming the figure is an internal European Parliament research document published on 24 November 2025 — after the events it describes and, for a speaker in October 2026, known material but not an independent statistical source.

Sources

• SecondaryReuters — 'China hits back at US tariffs with export controls on key rare earths'China placed export restrictions on rare earth elements on Friday (4 April 2025) as part of its sweeping response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
• SecondaryCSIS — 'The Consequences of China's New Rare Earths Export Restrictions'China has imposed export restrictions on seven rare earth elements and magnets in retaliation for new U.S. tariffs.
• SecondaryEuropean Parliamentary Research Service — 'China's rare-earth export restrictions' (EPRS ATA)On 4 April 2025 ... China introduced export controls on seven heavy REEs (with licensing requirements), as well as on all related compounds, metals and magnets. ... a second wave of restrictions on 9 October 2025, which added a further five REEs, related products, equipment.
• SecondaryReuters — 'China expands rare earths restrictions, targets defense and semiconductor users'China dramatically expanded its rare earths export controls on Thursday (9 October 2025), adding five new elements and extra scrutiny for semiconductor users.