China paused the raw rare-earth ban but kept its grip on the finished magnets US weapons need
China paused the rare-earth ban everyone reported and kept the one that matters. The October 2025 raw-material controls are suspended until November 2026, but China held on to control of finished magnets that go straight into F-35 actuators and submarine motors. It refines over 9
The rare-earth story got the headline wrong. China eased the visible ban and kept the grip that counts. The raw-material export controls announced in October 2025 are suspended until November 2026. But China retained control over the finished magnets that go directly into F-35 actuators, submarine propulsion motors and EV drivetrains. China refines over 90 percent of the world's rare earths. A single F-35 carries roughly 40 to 70 kg of rare-earth-bearing material, including about 23 kg of samarium-cobalt alloy for high-temperature parts. Source: CSIS