Chinese authorities have warned South Korean manufacturers they face sanctions if they supply products containing rare earth minerals to US defense contractors, according to industry sources and local media reports.
The move escalates Beijing’s response to Washington’s recent tariff hikes in an increasingly bitter trade confrontation that now threatens to ensnare South Korea.
According to a Reuters report, letters were reportedly sent to companies in transformer manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and medical device industries.
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South Korea’s industry ministry confirmed they are looking into reports that Chinese authorities have begun requiring special licensing for rare earth exports, materials crucial for advanced electronics and green technology production. According to the ministry, “it has not been confirmed that South Korean companies have received an official letter from the Chinese government.”
The timing aligns with Beijing’s implementation of broader export controls in early April following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of substantial tariffs on Chinese imports. China holds a commanding position in global rare earth processing, leaving countries like South Korea with few immediate alternatives.
South Korean manufacturers face a challenging position caught between their largest trading partner and their security ally. Companies leading Korea’s exports “could take a bigger hit,” said Han Ah-reum from the Korea International Trade Association.
The South Korean government reports maintaining strategic reserves of critical minerals including dysprosium, used in permanent magnets for electric vehicles, though these stockpiles would last only through fall if Chinese supplies were completely cut off.
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