China Widens Rare Earth Curbs Ahead of Key Xi-Trump Meeting (2)

China has unveiled broad new curbs on its exports of rare earths and other critical materials, as Beijing moves to shore up its trade war leverage ahead of a high-stakes meeting this month between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

Overseas exporters of items that use even traces of certain rare earths sourced from China will now need an export license, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Thursday, citing national security grounds. Certain equipment and technology for processing rare earths and making magnets will also be subject to controls, according to a separate release.

While it’s unclear how ...