On December 31, 2014 China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) jointly issued the following two announcements, effective January 1, 2015: “Catalogue of Commodities subject to Export License Administration in 2015 (Announcement [2014] No.94)” and “License-Issuing Catalogue in Grades of Export License Administration in 2015 (Announcement [2014] No.97)”. These announcements articulate how China has officially cancelled their policy on export quotas for rare earths, tungsten and molybdenum after losing their World Trade Organization appeal in August 2014.

“48 varieties of goods subject to the administration of export license in 2015 shall be subject to the administration of export quota license, export quota bidding and export license, respectively.

Goods subject to the administration of export license shall include: rare earths, tungsten and molybdenum; Enterprises that export rare earths, tungsten and molybdenum, should apply for an export license on the strength of the export contracts of the enterprises, no need the approval documents of the Ministry of Commerce;” the MOFCOM said in its announcements. (read more)