US Lawmaker Proposes Airline Sanctions to Pressure Beijing on Rare Earths

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Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) has called on President Donald Trump to suspend China’s commercial aviation landing rights and cut off its access to U.S. aircraft unless Beijing puts an end to its curbs on rare earths and magnets.

“China continues to choke exports of rare earths and magnets to the United States and its allies—particularly for defense and advanced manufacturing end uses,” Moolenaar said.

He said the Chinese regime continues to “weaponize” critical mineral supply chains by delaying or denying licenses.

“This deliberate squeeze mirrors other coercive actions by Beijing in the past and is part of the Chinese Communist Party’s playbook,” he wrote.

Among the reciprocal measures he proposed were restricting or suspending access for Chinese airlines to U.S. and allied airports, unless Beijing ensures the “full, non-discriminatory export flows of rare earth materials and magnets” are restored.

He also recommended a review of U.S. export control policies concerning the sale of commercial aircraft, parts, and maintenance services to China.

He also called for the restriction or prohibition of outbound investments into China’s aviation industry—both joint ventures and wholly-owned production facilities—in coordination with major industry allies.

By working with allies, the proposed actions would “send a powerful message to China that it cannot choke off critical supplies to our defense industries without jeopardizing its own strategic sectors,” Moolenaar wrote.

The regulations, introduced by the commerce ministry in April, required exporters to apply for special licenses to ship seven rare earth elements, alongside magnets derived from three of them and other related products out of the country.