In the field of export control, geopolitics frequently intersects with compliance.
In the field of export control, geopolitics frequently intersects with compliance.
The new Chinese export control rules, at the heart of international tensions and political reactions, remind us how essential it is for companies to adapt quickly.
October 2025 was a perfect illustration as China announced a tightening of its export controls on rare earths and related technologies. This decision revived trade tensions between major powers, particularly with the United States, before an agreement temporarily stabilised the situation, giving additional respite to industrialists affected by the restrictions and the application of customs duties.
An episode that nevertheless significantly impacted global markets, as they reacted immediately, leading to a historic crash in cryptocurrencies.
This was an opportunity for investors to become aware that China can use its strategic materials and technologies, such as rare earth elements, as instruments of geopolitical influence, notably through its export control regulations.
What is export control?
“Export control” refers to the set of national and international regulations governing the export of sensitive products, technologies, or data. These regimes define lists of “controlled” goods and technologies, as well as destinations requiring authorisation, a framework that can directly affect a company’s international operations.
What changes following the Chinese announcements?
Although Beijing has confirmed that enforcement of the new rules will be suspended for one year, it remains important to understand all the new elements introduced in MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China) announcements 61 and 62:
- Broader scope: Controls now extend beyond raw materials (oxides, alloys, magnets) to now include also processes, equipment, tools, software, and knowledge transfers related to their extraction, processing, or recycling.
- Extraterritorial application: The major new element is that any product manufactured outside of Chinese territory must obtain a MOFCOM licence if it:
- Contains at least 0.1% of Chinese origin materials (listed in the announcements),
- Or has been designed or manufactured using a controlled Chinese technology.
- Targeted restrictions: End-users in defence (any company with military activities or designated on China’s watchlist) are now excluded. Experts already anticipate that applications in advanced microelectronics will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
What Are the Impacts for European Companies?
Even though implementation has been postponed and the rules are intended to be adapted in the coming months, European companies must become aware of the impacts and challenges induced by these changes, in order to prepare for them and thus, mitigate the risks.
Organisations must be ready to manage triple regulatory compliance in export control: the extraterritorial application of the American (EAR and ITAR) and Chinese (ECL and UEL) regimes will require European players not only to master their own jurisdiction’s export controls, but also those of the United States and China when they use foreign-origin components, software, or technologies.
This situation multiplies the risks inherent in non-compliance and compliance.
The consequences of an error or a failure are heavy and of several kinds:
- Financial penalties reaching up to several million euros.
- Exclusion from certain markets or placement on watchlists, leading to suspension of activities.
- Reputational damage that may undermine long-term trust among partners and investors.
Even when companies do comply with the rules, they still face the effects of a more rigid regulatory environment.
The issuance of export licences may slow down or even block supply chains in critical sectors such as semiconductors, defence, electronics, or artificial intelligence. Also, export restrictions can inhibit Research and Development, and consequently slow down innovation.
As an example, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) announced in a press release last June¹ that among the hundreds of export licence requests submitted in April for critical materials (rare-earth magnets), only one quarter had been approved within two months, resulting in the shutdown of several production lines across Europe.
1 Source: CLEPA Press Release
What Solutions Can Address These Changes?
To face these challenges and transform them into opportunities, various strategies and mitigation levers exist:
- Map supply chains and technology chains to identify risks and actions priorities.
- Strengthen governance and train key functions (especially R&D and Procurement) to build an Export Control culture and ensure a resilient and efficient network.
- Integrate compliance by design stage and adapt contractual clauses to prevent potential blockages.
- Diversify partnerships and supply sources (including investment in intra-European production capacity to secure “critical” chains) ² to dilute risk and become more agile to respond to disruptions.
2 Source: OECD – Supply chain resilience review
To implement these strategies, Willing relies on advanced expertise and extensive field experience.
Our consultants rely on dynamic Communities of Expertise and a multidisciplinary methodology combining legal and regulatory mastery, change management, data-visualisation expertise, and high-impact communication.
Together, let’s turn compliance into strategic advantage !
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.