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China tightens rare earths export rules, adds semiconductor and defense curbs

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China sharply expanded its rare earths export restrictions on Thursday, adding five new elements and imposing stricter controls on semiconductor and defense users, in a move seen as tightening Beijing’s grip on critical materials ahead of Trump–Xi talks later this month.

The Ministry of Commerce said the new rules include holmium, erbium, thulium, europium, and ytterbium, bringing the total number of restricted rare earths to 12. Dozens of refining technologies were also added to the control list, while foreign companies using Chinese materials or equipment will now need a Chinese export licence — even if the finished product is made abroad.

China produces over 90% of the world’s processed rare earths, which are vital for EVs, aircraft engines, radars, and advanced chips. The new curbs come amid escalating U.S.–China tech tensions, following American calls to expand chip export bans.

Beijing said the rules will take effect November 8, with extra measures for foreign users from December 1. It also stated that defense-related users will not be granted licences, and chipmakers working on 14-nanometer or smaller chips and AI with military potential will face case-by-case reviews.

“The move helps Beijing gain leverage ahead of the Trump–Xi summit,” said Tim Zhang of Edge Research. Analysts described the controls as part of a global supply chain split, with China localizing production while the U.S. and allies accelerate their own.

Shares in Chinese and U.S. rare earth firms surged on the news, as investors braced for a new phase of strategic competition over the world’s most critical materials.

U.S. approves multi-billion-dollar Nvidia chip exports to UAE, Bloomberg reports

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The U.S. government has approved several billion dollars’ worth of Nvidia chip exports to the United Arab Emirates, according to Bloomberg News. The export licenses were issued by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security as part of a bilateral artificial intelligence agreement reached in May.

The deal will enable the UAE to build large-scale data centers essential for developing and training advanced AI models, deepening technological cooperation between the two countries. In return, the UAE has committed to making a reciprocal investment in the U.S., the report said.

An official from the Commerce Department told Bloomberg the agency is “fully committed to the transformational U.S.–UAE AI partnership deal.” Neither Nvidia nor the White House commented directly on the report, and UAE representatives could not be reached.

The export agreement is expected to allow the Emirates to import up to 500,000 of Nvidia’s high-performance AI chips annually starting in 2025, under a framework that could extend through 2030, as Reuters reported earlier this year.

The approval aligns with President Donald Trump’s renewed Gulf outreach, which in May yielded $600 billion in commitments from Saudi Arabia, including chip deals with Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm. The move strengthens Washington’s push to build regional AI alliances amid intensifying global competition for computing power.

Nvidia will continue sponsoring H-1B visas despite Trump’s new $100,000 fee

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has confirmed that the company will keep sponsoring H-1B visas and pay all associated fees, even after President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that added a $100,000 charge per new application, according to Business Insider.

Huang’s internal message sought to reassure foreign employees after confusion rippled through the tech sector, especially among Indian and Chinese professionals who form a large share of H-1B visa holders. The company employs many workers from abroad, and Huang has often noted that nearly half of the world’s AI researchers are Chinese.

“As one of many immigrants at Nvidia, I know the opportunities we’ve found in America have profoundly shaped our lives,” Huang wrote. “The miracle of Nvidia — built by all of you, and by brilliant colleagues around the world — would not be possible without immigration.”

Under Trump’s order, new H-1B applicants cannot enter the U.S. unless their employer pays an additional $100,000 fee. The rule does not affect current visa holders or those who applied before September 21.

H-1B visas enable U.S. firms to hire foreign specialists in technical fields. Lawmakers recently questioned major tech companies about their reliance on H-1B hiring while cutting other jobs.

Huang emphasized that legal immigration remains essential for America’s leadership in technology and innovation, saying the new policy changes reaffirm this principle. Data from USCIS shows that California — home to Nvidia and Silicon Valley — has led the nation in visa applications since 2018.