China Imposes New Restrictions on Silver Exports Amid Industrial Concerns
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, China’s latest measures to limit silver exports and enhance regulatory oversight of the metal are set to commence this Thursday. The move has sparked concerns among industrial stakeholders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who voiced his opposition on social media platform X over the weekend. Musk stated, “This is not good. Silver is essential for many industrial processes.”
These regulations are not entirely new, as China’s Ministry of Commerce initially announced stricter controls on rare metals in October. The announcement coincided with a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. At that time, Beijing agreed to a one-year suspension of certain export controls on rare earth elements, and the U.S. reciprocated by lifting tariffs.
According to CNBC, China released a list of 44 companies in early December that will be permitted to export silver under the new measures in 2026 and 2027. The updated regulations, effective in 2026, will further restrict exports of tungsten and antimony—materials that dominate China’s supply chain and are widely used in advanced and defense technologies.
