U.S. Businesses Report Critical Minerals 'Nearly Unobtainable' Despite Diplomatic Pledges

A U.S. business group reported June 10, 2026, that China's rare earth export controls have made certain critical minerals effectively unavailable, undercutting recent diplomatic promises. While Beijing suspended its most aggressive October 2025 restrictions and pledged cooperation, the April 2025 licensing regime remains intact. Defense manufacturers, semiconductor makers, and EV producers dependent on rare earths face immediate supply constraints that diversification efforts in Australia and Africa have yet to resolve.