[SMM Magnesium Express] Announcement No. 26 of 2026 by the Ministry of Commerce, announcing relevant matters on further improving the reporting and handling of illegal and irregular export control of strategic mineral dual-use items, will be officially implemented from July 1, 2026. The announcement stated that in order to fully play the role of social supervision and crack down on illegal and irregular export control of strategic dual-use mineral items, in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce has decided to further improve the reporting and handling of illegal and irregular export control of strategic dual-use mineral items. The announcement lists thirteen types of reportable situations, including unauthorized export, exceeding the scope of the license, splitting parts to evade the license, bypassing third countries to evade control, and includes intermediaries who knowingly provide agency, customs declaration, financial and other services in the scope of accountability. For magnesium exports, magnesium and its products have been included in the management of dual-use item export licenses since 2026. The new regulations significantly reduce the gray operation space such as false reporting, concealment, and transit. Especially with the continuous tightening of export controls on Japan, the export of high-purity magnesium products used for aluminum processing has come to a standstill; The situation of bypassing a third country to evade control is clearly listed as a reporting situation, which increases the risk of transit trade. Overall, magnesium exports are accelerating from "wide entry and wide exit" to "strict management and control", and compliant operation has become the bottom line for enterprise survival.

[SMM Rare Earth Express] The Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement on June 29, stating that in accordance with the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and other laws and regulations, and to safeguard national security and interests as well as fulfill international non-proliferation obligations, it has decided to include 20 entities, including the Defense Research Institute, that are involved in enhancing Japan's military capabilities, on the export control list. Effective immediately, export operators are prohibited from exporting dual-use items to the above-mentioned entities, and organizations and individuals from any country or region are prohibited from transferring or supplying dual-use items originating from China to these entities. Under special circumstances where export is genuinely necessary, an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Commerce. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that this move aims to resolutely curb Japan's reckless moves of "new-type militarism." The entities on the list include the Defense Research Institute, the Ground Equipment Research Institute, the Ship Equipment Research Institute, the Aviation Equipment Research Institute, as well as several enterprises such as Mitsubishi Electric Defense and Space Technology Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Technology Co., Ltd.

On June 22, China’s MOFCOM imposed export controls on 10 US entities, including rare earth giants MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, retaliating against the US expansion of its "Chinese Military Companies List" on June 8. While largely symbolic for China's magnet exports, the move targets the Achilles' heel of US supply chain autonomy, threatening higher costs and delays for American defense and rare earth projects.

[SMM Rare Earth Flash] On June 22, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 23 of 2026. In accordance with the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items of the People's Republic of China, and other laws and regulations, and to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, it decided to add 10 US entities, including Avioxx Corporation, to the export control list. Effective immediately, export operators are prohibited from exporting dual-use items to the above entities, and organizations and individuals in any country or region are prohibited from transferring or supplying dual-use items originating in China to the above entities. Under special circumstances where export is genuinely necessary, an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Commerce. The 10 US entities added to the list this time cover sectors such as aerospace, drones, robotics, and defense. Notably, two US rare earth enterprises — MP Materials Corp. and USA Rare Earth, Inc. — are both included. MP Materials is the only operating rare earth mine operator in the US, and USA Rare Earth is advancing a vertical integration strategy from mining to magnet manufacturing. This marks the first time China has included US rare earth enterprises on its export control list.

On Feb 24, 2026, China placed 20 Japanese firms, including Subaru, on an export control watchlist for unverifiable end-use of dual-use items. This signals tighter controls on critical minerals and tech amid geopolitical and supply chain shifts. The analysis examines the firms' supply chain roles and the long-term industrial implications.

On February 24, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 12 of 2026, adding 20 Japanese entities, including Subaru Corporation, to the export control "watch list" on the grounds of "inability to verify the end-users and end-uses of dual-use items." This move marks the first time since January 2026 that China has explicitly implemented such list-based management measures targeting Japanese enterprises, signaling a shift toward more precise, systematic, and in-depth development of export controls in the fields of critical minerals and high-tech materials. This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of the core backgrounds of these 20 enterprises, reveal their deep-seated connections with supply chains of critical materials such as rare earths, and explore the potential impact of this measure on the future global industrial landscape.

[SMM Analysis: Dual-Use Items Control Takes Effect, Japanese Battery Enterprises May Face Raw Material Supply Challenges] SMM January 7 News: On January 4, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs released the 2026 "Catalog of Dual-Use Items and Technologies Import and Export License Management," simultaneously repealing Announcement No. 67 of 2024 from the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs (the "Catalog of Dual-Use Items and Technologies Import and Export License Management"). On January 6, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce officially issued the "Announcement on Strengthening Export Controls on Dual-Use Items to Japan.

Conducive to the Execution of Lithium Battery Industry Chain Export Orders and the Restoration of International Cooperation

[SMM Analysis: Focusing on Graphite Anode Export Controls: Decoding Industry Reshaping and Global Changes Driven by New Policies] SMM October 10 News: Announcement No. 58 of 2025 from the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced the decision to implement export controls on items related to lithium batteries and artificial graphite anode materials. These control measures will officially take effect from November 8, 2025.

The international battery industry landscape is undergoing a new round of adjustments, as China has introduced significant export control measures to strengthen national security barriers.