China confirmed that its suspension of export controls on rare earths will extend to the EU, the bloc’s trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said early Saturday after high-level talks with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Friday.
Beijing agreed this week to delay its latest round of rare earth export restrictions for one year, following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday. This prompted the EU to swiftly seek assurances that the suspension would also cover the bloc.
“China confirmed that the suspension of the October export controls applies to the EU,” Šefčovič wrote on X. “Both sides reaffirmed commitment to continue engagement on improving the implementation of export control policies,” he added.