Chinese Rare-Earth Suppliers Quietly Halt Some US Shipments Ahead of Xi's September 24 Washington Visit

A handful of Chinese rare-earth suppliers have refused to ship materials to US companies since early August, when Beijing sanctioned the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), a US-based supply-chain due-diligence monitor, sources told Reuters in a report published September 4. The suppliers said they feared punishment from Beijing for complying with the RBA's due-diligence framework, even where the shipments themselves were otherwise licensed for export. The disruption has persisted for weeks and is now on the US planning agenda ahead of President Xi Jinping's September 24 visit to Washington. US officials have repeatedly pressed Beijing to honor rare-earth export-license commitments made in prior Busan and Beijing meetings, warning that renewed friction over critical minerals — used in defense systems, EV motors, and electronics — could overshadow preparations for the summit.