EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic attends a joint press conference in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025.  File photo: Xinhua

The European Union has welcomed China's decision to suspend its recently expanded rare earth restrictions for one year, according to media reports. A Chinese expert noted that the EU's response underscores its dependence on Chinese rare earth products and its underlying unease, as the bloc continues to impose restrictive measures that affect bilateral trade and economic relations.

Following a meeting between Chinese and US top leaders on Thursday, China announced the postponement of its latest round of rare earth export restrictions for one year.

Politico.eu reported on Saturday (EU time) that European Commission (EC) spokesperson Olof Gill stated, "The EU welcomed China's 12-month suspension of the relevant export controls published on October 9, 2025." The EC spokesperson described the move as "an appropriate and responsible step in the context of ensuring stable global trade flows in a critically important area."

This statement came after talks between Chinese and EU officials in Brussels last week. Some media outlets, however, characterized the dialogue as "little more than a sideshow" compared with the series of breakthroughs achieved during the Chinese-US summit last Thursday.