Diplomats, car manufacturers, and executives from India, Japan, and Europe are urgently trying to meet with officials in Beijing to advocate for quicker approval of rare earth magnet exports, according to sources cited by Reuters, as shortages risk disrupting global supply chains.
A Japanese business delegation is scheduled to visit Beijing in early June to discuss these restrictions with the Ministry of Commerce. Additionally, European diplomats from countries with significant automotive industries have also requested “emergency” meetings with Chinese officials in recent weeks, as reported by Reuters.
In India, Bajaj Auto has indicated that any further delays in obtaining rare earth magnets from China could have a severe impact on electric vehicle production. To address this issue, a trip for automotive executives from India is being planned within the next two to three weeks.
Last month, the head of the trade group that represents major automakers like General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai expressed similar worries in a letter to the Trump administration.
“Without consistent access to these materials and magnets, automotive suppliers won’t be able to produce essential components, such as automatic transmissions, throttle bodies, alternators, different motors, sensors, seat belts, speakers, lights, motors, power steering, and cameras,” the Alliance for Automotive Innovation stated in the letter.
