US, Japanese officials discussed China's yttrium curbs ahead of Trump-Xi meeting, document shows
XLB•US and Japanese officials and company representatives met on September 10 to discuss bottlenecks in permanent magnet and yttrium supply chains. China reported zero US-bound yttrium shipments in January, May and June, while more than two-thirds of nearly 200 Japanese company filings cited rare earth export-control risks.
1. Supply chain discussions
The US Department of Energy convened US and Japanese government and company officials on September 10 to discuss supply bottlenecks involving Chinese yttrium and permanent magnets. The meeting sought to identify opportunities for US-Japan collaboration to strengthen supply chain resilience, an emailed invitation said.
2. Shipments and business risks
China's customs data showed zero US-bound yttrium shipments in January, May or June. More than two-thirds of nearly 200 filings by Japanese companies in May and June said rare earth export controls were negatively affecting their business or could do so in the future.
3. Export controls
China introduced a licensing regime for yttrium and other critical minerals in response to US tariffs in April 2025. The article said compliance with an arrangement announced after a Trump-Xi summit in Busan has been inconsistent; China’s embassy said its export controls are legal and that Beijing remains committed to global critical mineral supply-chain stability.
