https://www.scmp.com/rss/524143/feed He Yadong serves as the Spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce, a pivotal role in communicating the ministry’s policies and official statements. His responsibilities include articulating China’s positions on international trade relations, such as those with the US and EU. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Beijing confirmed on Thursday that it has begun granting general licences with lengthier terms for exports of rare earth elements to foreign companies, though business groups said more guidance was needed on the policy’s implementation. “With the accumulation of relevant export compliance experience, some exporters have initially met the basic requirements to apply for general licences,” said He Yadong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom), at a press conference. “To my knowledge,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336916/china-confirms-issuing-first-general-licences-rare-earth-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336916/china-confirms-issuing-first-general-licences-rare-earth-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi China’s Ministry of Commerce has expressed strong opposition to recent European Union investigations into Chinese companies and vowed to use necessary means to defend their rights. “The European Union has recently launched a series of Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) investigations targeting Chinese enterprises … such actions are egregious, with clear targeting and discriminatory intent,” ministry spokesman He Yadong said during a press conference on Thursday. Last week, Brussels launched an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336941/china-slams-eu-subsidy-probes-egregious-and-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336941/china-slams-eu-subsidy-probes-egregious-and-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:30:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China has urged the Dutch government to push the Netherlands arm of semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia to send personnel to China, Beijing’s commerce ministry said during a press conference on Thursday. The Dutch embassy in China has been asked to urge The Hague’s Ministry of Economic Affairs to “implement the consensus reached in consultations” and encourage the Nijmegen-headquartered company to dispatch its representatives to China “as soon as possible”, ministry spokesman He Yadong... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336048/beijing-urges-dutch-government-push-china-visit-nexperia-execs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336048/beijing-urges-dutch-government-push-china-visit-nexperia-execs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:55:11 +0000 Frank Chen,Mandy Zuo Frank Chen,Mandy Zuo Beijing and Tokyo’s war of words over Taiwan was expected to be bad news for Japanese businesses in China. Previous diplomatic flare-ups have brought waves of online vitriol, protests and boycotts. But at a Japanese-invested luxury department store in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, the outlet’s executives seemed largely unruffled. They are already well versed in riding out tense political situations. The billion-dollar project – which is operated by a major Japanese retail group – had a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335763/why-japanese-firms-china-are-unfazed-rising-tensions-weve-been-careful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335763/why-japanese-firms-china-are-unfazed-rising-tensions-weve-been-careful?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As China and the Netherlands prepare to hold talks next week over the Nexperia chipmaker dispute, Beijing has the patience to resolve the issue through multiple rounds of negotiations to ensure the case remains isolated, analysts said. On Thursday, Dutch Economy Minister Vincent Karremans said a senior government delegation would visit Beijing “to continue our efforts to find a mutually agreeable solution”. The Dutch government took the unusual step of seizing control of Nexperia from its... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332847/china-signals-patience-nexperia-row-escalation-seen-possible-talks-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332847/china-signals-patience-nexperia-row-escalation-seen-possible-talks-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:30:19 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong A northern Chinese region that boasts the world’s biggest rare earth element (REE) mine is looking to develop its second-largest city, Baotou, into a world-leading hub for critical materials. And analysts say the effort could further shore up China’s leading position in the supply chain. In a 10-year development plan, which includes intentions to build a “solid ecological security barrier”, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region said it will make comprehensive progress on the protection and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332645/baotou-set-become-chinas-rare-earth-hub-under-inner-mongolias-10-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332645/baotou-set-become-chinas-rare-earth-hub-under-inner-mongolias-10-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:30:13 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China has called on the United States to lift its unilateral tariff measures so the two sides can restore normal trade flows of soybeans – a focal point of ongoing negotiations as many US farmers grow increasingly desperate for a bilateral deal to secure exports. Washington could take decisive action to ease tensions and bring trading of the crop – a critically important export for America’s agricultural industry – back to normalcy, Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said during a press... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3326873/soybeans-sake-cancel-tariffs-china-urges-us-farmers-grow-desperate-harvest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3326873/soybeans-sake-cancel-tariffs-china-urges-us-farmers-grow-desperate-harvest?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:09:47 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Beijing has further institutionalised its export-control regime on critical minerals – widely considered a trump card held by Chinese authorities in trade negotiations with the US – as officials intensify crackdowns on smuggling. In the two months since China launched a campaign to combat illegal exports of strategic minerals, authorities have identified attempts by “a small number of lawbreakers” to circumvent regulations through various means, leading to escalating risks of illegal technology... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3319473/china-steps-protect-trade-war-edge-rare-earth-smugglers-get-creative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3319473/china-steps-protect-trade-war-edge-rare-earth-smugglers-get-creative?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has downplayed EU concerns over restrictions on rare earth exports and offered assurances that the needs of European companies will be met if they adhere to proper application procedures. Controlling dual-use goods was a sovereign right and an international responsibility for all nations, Wang said during a news conference with his German counterpart in Berlin on Thursday. He was responding to a question about European companies’ unease over Beijing’s export... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3316937/rare-earth-exports-should-never-come-between-china-and-eu-wang-yi-says-europe-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3316937/rare-earth-exports-should-never-come-between-china-and-eu-wang-yi-says-europe-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:00:10 +0000