# DFARS Expands Rare-Earth Sourcing Restrictions

After trade talks in Beijing on October 9, 2026, China pledged to facilitate European Union export licenses for rare earths and permanent magnets, but no licenses or shipments have been reported. For U.S. defense contractors, the key procurement milestone is January 19, 2027, when DFARS 252.225-7052 expands sourcing restrictions to mining, refining, and separation. Chinese export permission alone does not establish that materials meet DFARS eligibility requirements.

- **Key deadline:** The expanded restrictions take effect January 19, 2027—101 days from October 10, 2026. Contractors should verify material provenance and qualification plans across mining, refining, and separation stages.
- Companies relying on Chinese rare-earth or permanent-magnet supply should distinguish export availability from eligibility under the U.S. defense sourcing rules when assessing suppliers and materials.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- Government of China
- European Union (EU)
- United States Government (U.S.)

### Sources
- [China EU Rare Earth Export Licenses DFARS 2027 Explained](https://rareearthexchanges.com/news/china-eu-rare-earth-export-licenses-dfars) - Rare Earth Exchanges