China Issues Rare‑Earth Export Licenses to Ford Suppliers

Beijing has granted the first round of streamlined rare-earth export licenses to Chinese magnet suppliers serving U.S. automaker Ford, easing shipment controls that had constricted the auto supply chain.\n\nThe new 'general' licenses are understood to be year-long permits allowing larger shipments with fewer per-shipment approvals, a reversal of April rules that required a license for every export and created bottlenecks. The change follows high-level discussions between Chinese and U.S. leaders.\n\nChinese authorities have released few details about eligibility or distribution, prompting concern among other governments and manufacturers that approvals may initially favor U.S. customers. Germany’s foreign minister said German automakers were not included in this first tranche; BMW and Volkswagen say they are monitoring the situation while reporting current supply stability.\n\nKey questions remain about how widely Beijing will issue these permits and whether sensitive sectors such as aerospace and semiconductors will qualify. Ford welcomed approvals for some suppliers but urged continued U.S.-China cooperation to fully restore resilient rare-earth supply chains.