HAMBURG, Germany — Germany’s importers of rare-earth minerals and magnets are keenly awaiting details after Beijing said last week that it would fast-track approvals of exports to European companies.
Two key importers told Nikkei Asia that Chinese export controls over seven rare earths — implemented April 4 in retaliation for Washington’s wide-ranging trade tariffs — cut off virtually all supply into Germany for nearly two months. Some companies have exhausted their inventories, given that China has a near-monopoly over those commodities.
