China's Ministry of State Security says it is cracking down on alleged smuggling of rare earths materials that it says threaten national security.

China's shipments of rare earth magnets to the United States jumped sharply in June. The rebound came after months of disruption and signaled renewed momentum in critical mineral trade between the two countries.

China’s exports of rare-earth products jumped in June, pointing to a potential pickup in magnet supplies after government-imposed curbs that proved to be Beijing’s most powerful weapon in its trade war with the Trump administration.