Rare earth regulations to further protect domestic supply

BEIJING: China has unveiled a list of rare earth regulations aimed at protecting supplies in the name of national security, laying out rules on the mining, smelting and trade in the critical materials used to make products from magnets in electric vehicles (EVs) to consumer electronics.

The regulations, issued by the State Council or cabinet, said rare earth resources belong to the state, and that the government will oversee the development of the industry around rare earths – a group of 17 minerals of which China has in recent years become the world’s dominant producer, accounting for nearly 90% of global refined output.