China rare earth firms halt some US shipments over geopolitical worries, sources say

Some Chinese rare-earth suppliers are refusing U.S. orders after Beijing sanctioned a U.S. supply‑chain auditor, squeezing U.S. access to critical materials just weeks before Xi’s visit to Washington.
License delays and export limits have tightened supply and kept prices high, affecting industries from chips and aerospace to medical devices and clean energy.
The issue is on the summit agenda—Washington is pressing Beijing, some shipments and approvals have resumed, and analysts expect Beijing may ease controls around the visit to reduce tensions.