China suspends rare-earth export control measures, easing key flashpoint in US-China trade war — one-year reprieve allows for trade talks with the U.S. to continue

Beijing just announced that it will suspend the expanded rare-earth export controls it announced in early October. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs said that it will delay its implementation for a year, according to a report from Digitimes. The original expanded rule covers China-sourced rare-earth minerals, as well as any technology in which these materials account for at least 0.1% of the item’s value.

The suspension will give companies that rely…