BUSINESS

China Tightens Control Over Strategic Minerals With Sweeping New Rules

Published: Jun. 17, 2026 7:22 p.m. GMT+8

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The move comes as governments around the world race to secure supplies of critical minerals used in electric vehicles, clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. Photo: VCG

China has implemented sweeping new regulations governing the entire lifecycle of strategic minerals, tightening oversight of resources that are increasingly viewed as critical to national security and industrial competitiveness.

The rules, which took effect Monday, cover everything from mining rights, mineral exploration and extraction to stockpiling, environmental restoration, regulatory oversight and legal liability. They serve as implementing regulations for the revised Mineral Resources Law, which took effect on July 1, 2025.

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China implemented sweeping regulations on strategic minerals, covering mining, stockpiling, and environmental restoration, effective after the revised Mineral Resources Law (July 1, 2025).
Measures include total volume controls, competitive bidding for scarce minerals, and a five-year restriction on transferring mining rights.
The rules close regulatory loopholes and supplement earlier rare earths controls (August 2025), prioritizing supply chain security.

AI generated, for reference only

Beijing Dacheng Law Offices: Beijing Dacheng Law Offices commented in a May article that China's new strategic mineral regulations elevate management to an unprecedented level, establishing a supply chain protection mechanism. The firm noted the overhaul closes long-standing gray areas, shifting focus to lifecycle compliance over post-violation penalties.

AI generated, for reference only