China targets US rare-earth firms after Pentagon blacklists Alibaba, Baidu

The retaliatory measures hit companies at the center of Washington's effort to reduce dependence on Chinese critical minerals.

Photo via @mpmaterials (YouTube)

China has imposed trade restrictions on dozens of U.S. companies, including rare-earth producers MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, after the Pentagon expanded its list of Chinese companies it alleges have ties to the People’s Liberation Army. The move came days after Alibaba and Baidu were added to the Defense Department’s…