China Imposes Export Controls on Certain Medium-to-Heavy Rare-Earth-Related Items

On April 4, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued Announcement No. 18 of 2025, deciding to implement export controls on certain medium to heavy rare earth-related items. The full text is as follows:

Announcement No. 18 of 2025 by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on the Export Controls of Certain Medium to Heavy Rare Earth-Related Items

In accordance with the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Regulation of the People's Republic of China on the Export Control of Dual-use Items, and to safeguard national security and interests while fulfilling international obligations such as non-proliferation, the State Council has approved the decision to impose export controls on the following items:

I. Samarium-Related Items

1C902.a Samarium metal, samarium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Samarium metal (Reference HS Code: 2805301910).

2. Samarium-containing alloys:

1. Samarium-cobalt alloy;
2. Samarium-iron alloy;
3. Samarium-nickel alloy;
4. Samarium-aluminum alloy; and
5. Samarium-magnesium alloy.

3. Samarium-containing target materials (Reference HS Codes: 3824999922, 8486909110):

1. Samarium targets;
2. Samarium-cobalt alloy targets; and
3. Samarium-iron alloy targets.

4. Samarium-cobalt permanent magnetic materials.

• 1C902.b Samarium oxide and its mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846901940, 2846901993, 3824999922).
• 1C902.c Samarium-containing compounds and their mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

II. Gadolinium-Related Items

1C903.a Gadolinium metal, gadolinium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Gadolinium metal (Reference HS Code: 2805301910).

2. Gadolinium-containing alloys:

1. Gadolinium-magnesium alloy; and
2. Gadolinium-aluminum alloy.

3. Gadolinium-containing target materials (Reference HS Codes: 3824999922, 8486909110):

1. Gadolinium targets;
2. Gadolinium-iron alloy targets; and
3. Gadolinium-cobalt alloy targets.

• • 1C903.b Gadolinium oxide and its mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846901930, 2846901993, 3824999922).
  • 1C903.c Gadolinium-containing compounds and their mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

III. Terbium-Related Items

1C904.a Terbium metal, terbium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Terbium metal (Reference HS Code: 2805301300).

2. Terbium-containing alloys:

1. Terbium-cobalt alloy; and
2. Terbium-cobalt-iron alloy.

3. Terbium-containing target materials (Reference HS Codes: 3824999922, 8486909110):

1. Terbium targets; and
2. Terbium-cobalt alloy targets.

4. Terbium-containing neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnetic materials.

• 1C904.b Terbium oxide and its mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846901600, 2846901993, 3824999922).
• 1C904.c Terbium-containing compounds and their mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846902100, 2846902810, 2846903100, 2846903910, 2846904200, 2846904820, 2846909300, 2846909920, 3824999922).

IV. Dysprosium-Related Items

1C905.a Dysprosium metal, dysprosium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Dysprosium metal (Reference HS Code: 2805301200).

2. Dysprosium-containing alloys:

1. Dysprosium-iron alloy; and
2. Terbium-dysprosium-iron alloy.

3. Dysprosium-containing target materials (Reference HS Codes: 3824999922, 8486909110):

1. Dysprosium targets; and
2. Terbium-dysprosium-iron alloy targets.

4. Dysprosium-containing neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnetic materials.

•  1C905.b Dysprosium oxide and its mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846901500, 2846901993, 3824999922).
•  1C905.c Dysprosium-containing compounds and their mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846902200, 2846902810, 2846903200, 2846903910, 2846904300, 2846904820, 2846909400, 2846909920, 3824999922).

V. Lutetium-Related Items

1C906.a Lutetium metal, lutetium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Lutetium metal (Reference Customs HS Code: 2805301910).

2. Lutetium-containing alloys:

3. Lutetium-containing target materials (Reference HS Codes: 3824999922, 8486909110):

• 1C906.b Lutetium oxide and its mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846901800, 2846901993, 3824999922).
• 1C906.c Lutetium-containing compounds and their mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

VI. Scandium-Related Items

• 1C907.a Scandium metal, scandium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Scandium metal (Reference HS Code: 2805301800).

2. Scandium-containing alloys:

1. Scandium-aluminum alloy;
2. Scandium-magnesium alloy; and
3. Scandium-copper alloy.

3. Scandium-containing target materials (Reference HS Codes: 3824999922, 8486909110):

• 1C907.b Scandium oxide and its mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846901980, 2846901993, 3824999922).
• 1C907.c Scandium-containing compounds and their mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

VII. Yttrium-Related Items

1C908.a Yttrium metal, yttrium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Yttrium metal (Reference HS Code: 2805301700).

2. Yttrium-containing alloys:

1. Yttrium-aluminum alloy;
2. Yttrium-magnesium alloy;
3. Yttrium-nickel alloy;
4. Yttrium-copper alloy; and
5. Yttrium-iron alloy.

3. Yttrium-containing target materials (Reference HS Codes: 3824999922, 8486909110):

a. Yttrium targets;

b. Yttrium-aluminum alloy targets; and

c. Yttrium-zirconium alloy targets.

• 1C908.b Yttrium oxide and its mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846901100, 2846901993, 3824999922).
• 1C908.c Yttrium-containing compounds and their mixtures (Reference HS Codes: 2846902600, 2846902810, 2846903600, 2846903910, 2846904600, 2846904820, 2846909690, 2846909920, 3824999922).

Exporters of the above-listed items must apply for licenses from the competent commerce department under the State Council in accordance with the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulation of the People's Republic of China on the Export Control of Dual-use Items.

Exporters are required to strengthen item identification and, during customs declaration, clearly indicate in the remarks column whether the items are subject to controls. For controlled items, the corresponding dual-use item export control codes must be specified. Customs reserves the right to question the declared information if discrepancies or doubts arise, and goods will not be released during the inquiry period.

This announcement takes effect immediately upon issuance. The Export Control List of Dual-Use Items of the People's Republic of China is updated accordingly.

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