Ministry of Commerce responds to rare earth export control: partial general license applications have been approved

Beijing, December 18 (Xinhua) -- The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, He Yadong, said on the 18th that since the implementation of export controls on rare earth related items, the Chinese regulatory authorities have made policy announcements to Chinese exporters. With the accumulation of relevant export and compliance experience, some Chinese exporters have preliminarily met the basic requirements for applying for a general license. To my knowledge, we have received and approved some of the general license applications submitted by Chinese exporters

At the routine press conference held by the Ministry of Commerce on the same day, a reporter asked: EU officials have stated that China has started issuing longer term rare earth export licenses to European companies. Can the Ministry of Commerce confirm this? He Yadong made the above response to this.