China's critical-mineral export controls have become a focus on Trump's criticism of Beijing, which he says has violated the truce reached last month to roll back tariffs and trade restrictions.

China has approved temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top US automakers, Reuters reported on Friday, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

Each F-35 fighter jet contains roughly 900 pounds of rare earth materials, while submarines can require more than 9,000 pounds, the U.S. Department of Defense has concluded a stark reminder of how deeply integrated these elements have become in the machinery of modern defense.