On 15 October 2026, at a routine MOFCOM press conference, spokesperson He Yadong stated that China is willing to continue providing facilitation for rare-earth export license approvals to the EU and hopes the EU will reciprocally resolve key dual-use license cases for China. China will work with the EU to continue giving play to the export-control dialogue mechanism to promote bilateral dual-use items trade. The statement addresses EU inquiries on rare-earth licensing amid broader trade discussions.
Who this affects
- For exporters: Chinese rare-earth exporters to the EU may see continued facilitation of license approvals; EU dual-use exporters to China may see reciprocal progress on key cases.
- For investors: Dual-use trade flows between China and the EU remain subject to ongoing dialogue under the export-control mechanism.
- For counsel/compliance: Parties seeking rare-earth export licenses to the EU or dual-use licenses to China should track outcomes of the export-control dialogue mechanism.
- For policymakers: The statement links Chinese facilitation of rare-earth licenses to the EU with reciprocal EU action on dual-use licenses to China, to be advanced through the existing export-control dialogue.
The read
The statement positions Chinese rare-earth license facilitation as conditional on reciprocal EU progress on dual-use cases, continuing the bilateral export-control dialogue established in prior consultations. It addresses EU concerns on rare-earth supply without announcing new measures or timelines, framing facilitation as an ongoing process rather than a completed action.
What was the action?
MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong stated China’s willingness to continue facilitating rare-earth export license approvals to the EU and its hope that the EU will reciprocally resolve key dual-use license cases for China, while continuing to use the export-control dialogue mechanism to promote dual-use trade.
What’s the penalty / scope, and how is it set?
No penalty or binding instrument. The statement expresses willingness to continue providing facilitation for rare-earth export license approvals to the EU and seeks reciprocal facilitation from the EU on dual-use licenses, to be advanced through the existing export-control dialogue mechanism.
Who else is exposed?
Not specified in the record beyond the parties to the China-EU export-control dialogue.
What happens next
China and the EU will continue to give play to the role of the export-control dialogue mechanism to promote the development of dual-use items trade between the two sides. No specific deadline or next meeting is stated.