The chair of the US House of Representatives committee on China, Republican John Moolenaar, has urged the Trump administration to suspend or restrict Chinese airlines’ landing rights in the United States unless Beijing restores full access to rare earths and magnets.
Moolenaar also called for a review of export controls on commercial aircraft, parts, and maintenance services to China, warning that Washington must respond firmly to Beijing’s curbs on supplies critical to US defense and technology industries.
Rare earths — a group of 17 elements used in everything from lasers and military equipment to magnets in EVs, wind turbines, and consumer electronics — were added to China’s export restriction list in April, following US tariff hikes.
The dispute comes as China weighs purchasing up to 500 Boeing aircraft in ongoing trade talks. Meanwhile, US carriers are only operating a fraction of the flights approved to China due to weak demand. Under a US Transportation Department ruling this week, United, American, and Delta will fly a total of 48 weekly flights, out of 119 allowed, with Chinese carriers permitted the same number.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not comment, while US airline groups also declined to respond. Aviation tensions between the two countries have persisted since the COVID-19 pandemic, when both sides clashed over flight approvals.
