Japan will explain its position on China’s recent export controls during meetings in the United States next week, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Friday, expressing strong concern over Beijing’s actions affecting rare earth supplies.
Katayama said she plans to meet with her U.S. counterparts to discuss rare earths and reaffirm Japan’s condemnation of China’s latest restrictions. She described the situation as worrying and said Japan will clearly convey its stance during the talks.
China recently announced a ban on exports of dual-use items to the Japanese military and has reportedly tightened controls on shipments of rare earths and related high-powered magnets to Japanese companies. Japan’s trade minister said authorities are closely analyzing the situation and coordinating with partner countries, including the United States, noting that China’s rare earth regulations have implications for the global economy.
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) are expected to discuss rare earth supply chains in Washington next week. Katayama said the issue is already being addressed among G7 members, who share concerns over the use of non-market practices to secure monopolistic positions.
She added that leveraging such dominance as a strategic tool poses risks to the global economy and raises serious concerns about economic security, underscoring the need for international coordination.