South Korea's Samsung has significantly increased China's rare earth imports this year, 82% of which were resold to American military enterprises! In recent days, China's Ministry of Commerce warned South Korea's Samsung not to resell Chinese rare earths to American military enterprises! If we continue to do this, China will cut off the supply of rare earths to Samsung!
The special characteristics of rare earth determine the need for strict regulation of its trade.
Medium-heavy rare-earth elements such as uranium, uranium and uranium are not only the core materials of new energy vehicles and electronic equipment, but are also indispensable in the manufacture of military equipment such as advanced warplanes and precision guided weapons.
As the world's largest producer and exporter of rare earth, China's export controls for such resources have always followed international standards.
In April 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued an announcement that seven types of medium and heavy rare earth-related items have been clearly included in the scope of export control, covering various forms such as metals, alloys, and oxides.
Among the rare-earth imports of Samsung, many categories are within the control list, and its resale of military-industrial enterprises has touched the red line of control policy.
China's rare earth control policy has a clear legal and strategic basis. The Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China clearly stipulates that the implementation of export controls on dual-use items is a necessary measure to safeguard national security and interests.
The promulgation of the "Rare Earth Management Regulations" in 2024 will further bring the development of the rare earth industry into the track of rule of law and establish a traceability information system covering the entire industry chain, which can accurately track the complete flow of rare earths from mining, processing to export.
The warning of the Ministry of Commerce to Samsung is a compliance supervision action based on these regulations, not a special measure for specific enterprises or countries.
Samsung’s rare-earth trade behavior needs to be reviewed in the global supply chain pattern.The July 2025 data showed that South Korea imported $6.5 million of rare-earth from China in the month, three times as much as in June, and was the third largest buyer of rare-earth in China.
As a global electronics industry giant, Samsung's rare earth demand is originally used in civilian fields such as semiconductors and displays. However, the operation of reselling military enterprises has linked civilian trade channels with military applications.
This "return-to-return" approach is precisely the risk point that export control policies focus on preventing and could potentially impact regional security and stability.
China's regulatory measures have always taken into account security and cooperation.The Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly made it clear that the core of regulation is to prevent the flow of irregularities, not to restrict normal trade.
Export operators must only apply for permission in accordance with the provisions, indicate the code of the control items at the time of customs reporting, and the application that meets the conditions will be approved according to law.
Responding to the concerns of partners such as the EU, China even proposed the establishment of a “green channel” to speed up approval, reflecting the sincerity of promoting compliance trade.
The warning to Samsung is essentially to correct violations, rather than block cooperation. As long as it returns to the compliance track, the normal supply of rare earths will not be affected.
The global rare earth market has adapted to China’s regulatory measures.Since 2025, U.S. imports of rare earth-related goods from China have seen significant adjustments, with uranium imports falling by 40% from January to July, a change directly related to China’s tightened regulation, but has not caused a global supply chain breakdown.
The main importing countries such as Japan and the Netherlands haveined the stability of the supply of rare earth by improving the compliance declaration process.This shows that as long as the rules are followed, normal trade needs can be fully met, and regulatory policies bring a more orderly and transparent market environment.
Behind the control of rare earths is China's pursuit of sustainable development. In the past, extensive rare earth development led to ecological damage and waste of resources. Now, by standardizing exports and industrial upgrading, China's rare earth industry has got rid of the old model of "exchanging environment for growth".
Establishing tracking systems, combating illegal mining, and promoting technological innovation, these measures not only safeguard national resources, but also provide more reliable supply security for the global industrial chain.
In September, the electronic screen updated the compliance transaction data of various rare-earth products in real time, and purchasers from Japan and South Korea are submitting license applications through the online system.
Meanwhile, the staff of the Ministry of Commerce is auditing the export declaration materials of enterprises, using the tracking system to verify the final flow of goods. These scenarios together make up the daily routine of China's rare earth control, no confrontation and blockade, only rules and cooperation.
Regulatory management of rare earth trade is a common need for global security and development.China's compliance warning to Samsung is a concrete action to fulfill international anti-proliferation obligations, but also a necessary measure to promote the healthy development of rare earth industry.
In this process, China has always sought a balance between national security, industrial interests and global supply chain stability, and guided trade flows in a legal and standardized way. This responsible governance model is providing a reference sample for global strategic resource management, and also opening up a broader space for compliance cooperation.
The special characteristics of rare earth determine the need for strict regulation of its trade.
Medium-heavy rare-earth elements such as uranium, uranium and uranium are not only the core materials of new energy vehicles and electronic equipment, but are also indispensable in the manufacture of military equipment such as advanced warplanes and precision guided weapons.
As the world's largest producer and exporter of rare earth, China's export controls for such resources have always followed international standards.
In April 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued an announcement that seven types of medium and heavy rare earth-related items have been clearly included in the scope of export control, covering various forms such as metals, alloys, and oxides.
Among the rare-earth imports of Samsung, many categories are within the control list, and its resale of military-industrial enterprises has touched the red line of control policy.
China's rare earth control policy has a clear legal and strategic basis. The Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China clearly stipulates that the implementation of export controls on dual-use items is a necessary measure to safeguard national security and interests.
The promulgation of the "Rare Earth Management Regulations" in 2024 will further bring the development of the rare earth industry into the track of rule of law and establish a traceability information system covering the entire industry chain, which can accurately track the complete flow of rare earths from mining, processing to export.
The warning of the Ministry of Commerce to Samsung is a compliance supervision action based on these regulations, not a special measure for specific enterprises or countries.
Samsung’s rare-earth trade behavior needs to be reviewed in the global supply chain pattern.The July 2025 data showed that South Korea imported $6.5 million of rare-earth from China in the month, three times as much as in June, and was the third largest buyer of rare-earth in China.
As a global electronics industry giant, Samsung's rare earth demand is originally used in civilian fields such as semiconductors and displays. However, the operation of reselling military enterprises has linked civilian trade channels with military applications.
This "return-to-return" approach is precisely the risk point that export control policies focus on preventing and could potentially impact regional security and stability.
China's regulatory measures have always taken into account security and cooperation.The Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly made it clear that the core of regulation is to prevent the flow of irregularities, not to restrict normal trade.
Export operators must only apply for permission in accordance with the provisions, indicate the code of the control items at the time of customs reporting, and the application that meets the conditions will be approved according to law.
Responding to the concerns of partners such as the EU, China even proposed the establishment of a “green channel” to speed up approval, reflecting the sincerity of promoting compliance trade.
The warning to Samsung is essentially to correct violations, rather than block cooperation. As long as it returns to the compliance track, the normal supply of rare earths will not be affected.
The global rare earth market has adapted to China’s regulatory measures.Since 2025, U.S. imports of rare earth-related goods from China have seen significant adjustments, with uranium imports falling by 40% from January to July, a change directly related to China’s tightened regulation, but has not caused a global supply chain breakdown.
The main importing countries such as Japan and the Netherlands haveined the stability of the supply of rare earth by improving the compliance declaration process.This shows that as long as the rules are followed, normal trade needs can be fully met, and regulatory policies bring a more orderly and transparent market environment.
Behind the control of rare earths is China's pursuit of sustainable development. In the past, extensive rare earth development led to ecological damage and waste of resources. Now, by standardizing exports and industrial upgrading, China's rare earth industry has got rid of the old model of "exchanging environment for growth".
Establishing tracking systems, combating illegal mining, and promoting technological innovation, these measures not only safeguard national resources, but also provide more reliable supply security for the global industrial chain.
In September, the electronic screen updated the compliance transaction data of various rare-earth products in real time, and purchasers from Japan and South Korea are submitting license applications through the online system.
Meanwhile, the staff of the Ministry of Commerce is auditing the export declaration materials of enterprises, using the tracking system to verify the final flow of goods. These scenarios together make up the daily routine of China's rare earth control, no confrontation and blockade, only rules and cooperation.
Regulatory management of rare earth trade is a common need for global security and development.China's compliance warning to Samsung is a concrete action to fulfill international anti-proliferation obligations, but also a necessary measure to promote the healthy development of rare earth industry.
In this process, China has always sought a balance between national security, industrial interests and global supply chain stability, and guided trade flows in a legal and standardized way. This responsible governance model is providing a reference sample for global strategic resource management, and also opening up a broader space for compliance cooperation.